James E. Ransome (American, b. 1961)
"Joseph Arrived and the Entire Court Broke into Applause," 2011
Illustration for Before There Was Mozart: The Story of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George by Lesa Cline-Ransome, Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011
Oil on paper
Signed bottom left corner
Sheet 19 ¼ x 15 ½ inches
Copyright © 2011 James E. Ransome

In this scene from Before There Was Mozart, James E. Ransome depicts France's King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette listening to Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George play his violin. Born on a plantation in Guadeloupe to a black slave and her white master, Joseph became a professional violinist. He conducted the orchestra Les Amateurs, became the queen's personal music instructor, and wrote concertos, symphonies, string quartets, and operas. Ransome spent a full year painting the book's images, and traveled to both Guadeloupe and Paris with his wife and collaborator, Lesa Cline-Ransome, for research.

Ransome received the 1995 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award and the IBBY Honor Award for his book The Creation (1994). He won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor for Before She Was Harriet: The Story of Harriet Tubman (2017). His work was featured in The Carle's exhibition Our Voice: The Coretta Scott King Illustrators Award Exhibition (2018).



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Artwork is framed by R. Michelson Galleries using archival materials.

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