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André Devambez: The 13 Most Famous Paintings, Documented
Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 13 works by André Devambez in our catalogue
Summary
According to this ranking, The Denial of Peter (1890) is the most famous painting by André Devambez. It is followed by Jean Valjean before the Assize Court of Arras (Les Misérables) (1904) and The actor (1900). This list draws on the 13 works by André Devambez in the catalogue and records the 13 most famous, with date, holding museum and description for each entry.
1867 – 1944, 1st arrondissement of Paris
Most works: Musée d'Orsay
André Devambez: top 10 entries of the list
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André Devambez: list continued, 11 to 13
Principal subjects in the work of André Devambez
The four subjects most frequently represented among these works, each with its best-known example.
People 2 works
André Devambez: holding museums
The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by André Devambez | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Musée d'Orsay |
Paris | 3 | The Only Bird Flying Above Clouds, Column Concert, The Charge |
 Carnavalet Museum |
Paris | 3 | The Escort of President Wilson, Place Saint-Augustin, Rush Hour in the Metro, The Hill of Chaillot during the 1937 International Exhibition, viewed from the Tour Eiffel |
 Musée Victor Hugo |
Paris | 1 | Jean Valjean before the Assize Court of Arras (Les Misérables) |
 Musée Toulouse-Lautrec |
Albi | 1 | The actor |
 Opera House |
Versailles | 1 | Barricade, the Paris Commune, May 1871 |
 Petit Palais |
Paris | 1 | At the Café |
 National Museum of Fine Arts |
Buenos Aires | 1 | La Place Pigalle |
 Musée des Beaux-Arts de Quimper |
Quimper | 1 | The Misunderstood |
André Devambez by decade: the most famous painting of each
Works per decade
Select a decade to display its principal painting.
1900s
Jean Valjean before the Assize Court of Arras (Les Misérables)
Age 33 – 42
4 works this decade
1930s
The Hill of Chaillot during the 1937 International Exhibition, viewed from the Tour Eiffel
Age 63 – 72
1 work this decade
André Devambez: questions and documented answers
Which André Devambez painting heads the list of most famous works?Display the answer
The Denial of Peter (1890). The following entries are Jean Valjean before the Assize Court of Arras (Les Misérables) (1904) and The actor (1900).
What age had André Devambez reached when The Denial of Peter was painted?Display the answer
23 years: André Devambez was born in 1867 and The Denial of Peter is dated 1890.
Which works make up the top 10 of André Devambez?Display the answer
The Denial of Peter, Jean Valjean before the Assize Court of Arras (Les Misérables), The actor, Barricade, the Paris Commune, May 1871, At the Café, La Place Pigalle, The Only Bird Flying Above Clouds, The Escort of President Wilson, Place Saint-Augustin, Rush Hour in the Metro and The Hill of Chaillot during the 1937 International Exhibition, viewed from the Tour Eiffel. The list above records the date and holding museum of each.
How many works by André Devambez are recorded?Display the answer
The catalogue records 13 works by André Devambez, dated between 1890 and 1937.
In which collections are André Devambez's most famous works held?Display the answer
Principally in Musée d'Orsay (Paris), Carnavalet Museum (Paris) and Musée Victor Hugo (Paris). The museum table above gives the full distribution.
When were the most famous works of André Devambez painted?Display the answer
In 1900s: 4 of the 13 works listed on this page are dated to that period, including Jean Valjean before the Assize Court of Arras (Les Misérables).
Which dated works by André Devambez are the earliest and the latest here?Display the answer
The earliest dated work listed here is The Denial of Peter (1890); the latest is The Hill of Chaillot during the 1937 International Exhibition, viewed from the Tour Eiffel (1937).
What materials did André Devambez use most frequently?Display the answer
Oil On Canvas, in 2 of the 13 works listed on this page.
Which works of André Devambez are held by the Musée d'Orsay?Display the answer
The Only Bird Flying Above Clouds, Column Concert and The Charge are among the 3 works on this page in the collection of the Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
André Devambez: life and work
The Life of André Devambez
André Victor Édouard Devambez was a French painter and illustrator born on 26 May 1867. The son of an engraver, he received private lessons from Gabriel Guay and Jules Lefebvre before studying at the École des Beaux-Arts under Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant and Gustave Boulanger. In 1890, he was awarded the Prix de Rome, allowing him to study at the Villa Médicis in Rome for five years.
Devambez’s career included several prestigious roles:
- Professor at the École des Beaux-Arts, where he headed the painting section from 1929 to 1937 and opened the atelier to women students.
- Member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts, elected to Seat #9 in 1937.
- Official painter of the French Ministry of Aviation, appointed in 1934.
- Commander of the French Legion of Honor.
Artistic Subjects and Achievements
Devambez is known for his whimsical illustrations for children's books and dramatic paintings. His work often features Paris scenes from unusual, high-altitude perspectives, such as views from the Eiffel Tower or looking down upon the streets of Paris. He also focused on aviation and technology, creating works like the "Dirigible-Bus" lithograph and paintings of biplanes.
During the First World War, Devambez volunteered as a battlefield artist and painted camouflage for army positions. His notable works include:
- The Charge, an aerial view of a nighttime confrontation in Paris.
- Le seul oiseau qui vole au-dessus des nuages, depicting a biplane above clouds.
- A series of twelve etchings based on his experiences at the front, such as Shell Holes and The Spy.
He died at the Villa Adrienne on 18 March 1944.