Fould, Consuelo (1862-1927)

Fould, Consuelo

PAINTER (FRANCE)

BORN 22 Nov 1862, Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen - DIED 17 May 1927, Paris: 8e
GRAVE LOCATION Paris: Père Lachaise, Rue du Repos 16 (division 70, avenue Cail, ligne 01, numéro 01 (Stirbey mausoleum))

Consuelo Fould was the daughter of the actress, writer and sculptor Valérie Simonin, who was also known as Gustave Haller. Her father was Gustave Eugène Fould, who was a politician and a man of letters. She was born in Cologne, where her parents married in 1863. Her grandfather was Achille Fould, who was Minister of Finance under Napoleon III. Her parents separated in 1872 and her father died in 1884. She was adopted by her mother's lover prince Georges Stirbey who later married her mother.

She received painting lessons from Antoine Volon, Léon Comerre and Ferdinand Roybet. Her sister George-Achille Fould became a painter as well and the sisters shared a studio in the Parc de Bécon in Courbevoie that was owned by Prince Stirbey. She won several medals at the Salon des Artistes Français. In 1890 she exhibited at the first Salon of the Société nationale des Beaux Arts.

In 1892 she and her sister visited and befriended their idol Rosa Bonheur during a stay at Rosa's castle. Both Consuelo and her sister painted Rosa. One of the portraits should be exhibited at the Salon of 1893. They drew lots and George-Achille Fould won. Her painting was well received. Consuelo's portrait of Mme Jean Rameau failed to do as well and, possibly as a consolation, Rosa Bonheur offered her to sit for another portrait for which she already had a buyer. Consuelo accepted and painted her for the second time.

Consuelo married François Foulques Marie, Marquis de Grasse (1859-1921) on 7 October 1893 in Courbevoie. In 1925 she received the gold medal at the Exposition des arts décoratifs. She was the founder of the Musée Roybet Fould in her studio at the Parc de Bécon. She died in 1927 in Paris.

Family
• Mother: Simonin, Valérie

Related persons
• painted Bonheur, Rosa
• was adopted by Stirbey, George Barbu, prince

Images
Inside the Stirbey mausoleum at the Cimetière du Père Lachaise, Paris. Picture by Androom (08 Feb 2025)	The Stirbey mausoleum at the Cimetière du Père Lachaise, Paris. Picture by Androom (08 Feb 2025)