Today’s animated Google Doodle celebrates French artist Louis Joseph César Ducornet, a renowned painter in the 1800s who painted solely with his foot due to limb differences from birth.
Born on 10 January 1806 in Lille, France, today would have been his 218th birthday.
Who is Louis Joseph César Ducornet?
Louis Joseph César Ducornet was born to poor parents in France in 1806.
He was born with a phocomelia,which causes arms and legs to be shorter or missing altogether.
The condition became more well-known as a typical side-effect of the drug thalidomide, but can also occur spontaneously.
Growing up, Ducornet didn’t have arms or a left leg but had four toes on his right foot.
Ducornet’s father carried him around throughout his childhood since he couldn’t walk.
After picking up a piece of charcoal with his toes, Ducornet began experimenting with sketches, which started a lifelong passion for painting.
Ducornet went on to become a proficient illustrator, attracting the attention of local schools and artists. He received training and the government provided him with a pension so he was able to study under renowned painters in Paris.
Early in his career, he focused on biblically-inspired pieces such as Repentance (1828) and St. Louis Administering Justice. According to his Google biography, the Lille Museum features both paintings to this day.
Ducornet’s disability prevented him from earning awards through the Prix de Rome, a French scholarship foundation. However, he did earn several awards from the prestigious Salon d’Art.
In 1840, he painted a portrait of Mary Magdalene, which the French government subsequently purchased. He followed this with one of his most famous works – a self-portrait of him painting with his foot.
His historical scenes and portraits continue to grace some of the world’s most renowned art museums.
Ducornet died in Paris at the age of 50 years old, but his art and determination continue to inspire people more than 150 years late