Jules Lefebvre's painting "The Death of Priam" (1861), an oil on canvas, won which prestigious artwork award?

The French painter and educator Jules Joseph Lefebvre lived from March 1836 – February 1911. He was born in Seine-et-Marne in Northern France. He entered the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in 1852 and was a pupil of Léon Cogniet. He had his painting debut at the Paris Salon was in 1855. He spent the next five years trying to win the coveted Grand Prix de Rome, a scholarship awarded by the French government between 1663 – 1968, enabling young French artists to study in Rome. In 1859 Lefebvre came close, getting second place, and finally, in 1861 he won first place with his history painting "The Death of Priam". Winning this award allowed him to stay in Rome, three to five years.

By winning the prestigious Grand Prix de Rome with his painting in 1861, he was able to exhibited 72 portraits/paintings in the Paris Salon between 1855 – 1898. It was then while studying in Rome that Lefebvre found his artistic style, and he was able to study great Italian masters. He became captivated by the Mannerist painters, especially Andrea Del Sarto.

In 1870 Lefebvre became both a professor, Académie Julian and an officer within the Légion d'honneur, named Commander in 1898. In 1891 he became a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts.

Noting facts about the Grand Prix de Rome, it was extended to architecture in 1720, music in 1803, and engraving in 1804. It was abolished in 1968 by André Malraux, Minister of Culture, following the May 68 riots that called for cultural change.