He was a great French-Italian painter, son of Charles Soulacroix.

Did you know that the main founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Antoine Frederic Ozanam, had a nephew also named Frederic? It is a pity that they never met, because Ozanam died – as we know – in 1853, and his nephew, named Frederic Joseph Pierre Timotheus Soulacroix, was born on October 1, 1858 in Rome, although of French nationality. He was one of the eleven children of Amelie’s brother, Charles Soulacroix (1825-1899), and his wife, Giacinta Diofebo (of Italian origin).

Frederic (the nephew) loved the Arts, surely influenced by his father, who was a famous European painter and sculptor. The busts of Ozanam and Amelie belong to Charles Soulacroix, as well as the portrait of Ozanam (1841) considered one of the most realistic of all. These real treasures are housed in the Espace Historique Ozanam, located at the headquarters of the International Council General of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) in Paris, open to all visitors.

Federico lived in several cities, he was an artist who navigated through Italian and French art, as he accompanied his father in the artistic labors to which he was hired. He lived in Rome, Boulogne-sur-Mer (France), Paris and Florence (Italy). But it was precisely in Florence where he stayed the longest. He was a proponent of “artistic realism,” in which artists are concerned with portraying people as they really are, without idealizations, distortions or adaptations.

In 1873, at the age of 15, his talent began to emerge. He was admitted to the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence and three years later, in 1878, he was admitted to the prestigious “School of Painting”, also in Florence. In the same city, on June 6, 1890, at the age of 32, Frederic Soulacroix married Julie Fernande Blanc. From this marriage five beautiful children were born: Richard, Olivier, George, Gabriel and Amélie.

He continued his career as a renowned painter and art teacher, specializing in portraits of important people and aristocratic families in the United States, Canada, South America and Europe. In 1924 he was appointed “Officer of the National Academy of Fine Arts” in Paris. One of his best known works was the portrait of Queen Margherita, wife of King Umberto I of Italy. In August 1929 he was named “Knight of the Legion of Honor.”

The paintings, drawings and portraits of Frederic Soulacroix are sometimes confused with the works of his father, since their names were quite similar: Charles Joseph Frederic Soulacroix (father) and Frederic Joseph Pierre Timothee (son). Charles excelled at painting frescoes, while Frederic specialized in painting celebrities in interiors (halls, salons and rooms) and exteriors (landscapes). He distinguished himself by depicting romantic scenes, with female figures in elegant poses and sumptuous environments, highlighting the richness of the fabrics of women’s clothing (silk and satin), as well as tapestry, furniture and curtains. His style was unmistakable.

Another difference is found in the signature of the paintings, since Frederic signed in red ink “F. Soulacroix”, while his father signed in black, putting “Charles Soulacroix”, also using the variants “C.” or “Ch.” Charles died after a painful eye ailment, caused by the marble dust that fell into his eyes due to his lying position when he painted the frescoes on the ceilings of churches and cathedrals.

Several works by Frederic Soulacroix, such as watercolors, paintings of famous people and portraits of his own family, as well as other works by Charles Soulacroix, are currently in the custody of the Chiaramonti family in Sardinia, along with many objects (clocks, sofas, chairs, etc.) that often appeared in Frederic’s paintings. Many of his works can be seen at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (USA) and at the headquarters of the City Hall in London.

Frederic Soulacroix lived a long life, passing away on September 3, 1933 at the age of 74. He died in the city of Cesena (Italy), together with his beloved daughter Amelie Florence, and his body is buried in Chiaramonti, on the island of Sardinia. His son-in-law was also very famous: Prince Urbano Chiaramonti, nephew of Pope Pius VII. Antoine Frederic Ozanam would undoubtedly have loved to meet his nephew Frederic Soulacroix during his lifetime.

Some works by Frederic Soulacroix:

Renato Lima de Oliveira
International President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul