Frantz Seimetz
Encyclopedia
Frantz Seimetz was a prolific Luxembourg
artist who painted portraits and landscapes in the Impressionist style.
on the Moselle, Seimetz first worked as a house painter and decorator until the industrialist Antoine Pescatore noticed his artistic talents and provided support for his education. In 1875, he began his studies in Brussels, continuing at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts
(1879–1881) and finally at the French Academy
(1881–1887).
where he painted numerous scenes of the surroundings including the Mullerthal. His pictures are generally realistic and slightly romantic, bordering on Impressionism
. Especially after 1900, his style became brighter and more colourful, reflecting the happiness and beauty of the moment he must have experienced.
Seimetz himself was rather like his paintings. He was regarded as something of an eccentric with his full moustache, small beard and curly hair, his floppy hat and flowing clothes. Always optimistic and full of good humour, he led a rather Bohemian yet adventurous life. He travelled to Canada, the West Indies and Mexico. In the United States, he sailed down the Mississippi on a flat boat. His wife, Marie-Antoinette Bourger from Arlon, also a talented artist, did not object to the rather unstable life they led. After Echternach and then Arlon, in 1923 they moved to Luxembourg City
where their house packed with old furniture is said to have looked like a museum.
Many of Seimetz' portraits are of exotic figures he met on his travels but there are also excellent paintings of his wife and his Luxembourg friends including Michel Rodange
, Sosthène Weis
, Michel Engels
and Batty Weber. But his masterpiece is generally considered to be his portrait of a fair-haired girl. Many of his self-portraits are reminiscent of Rembrandt and Frans Hals
. In 1932, Seimetz painted his last picture. Thereafter he took up writing, first in German, then in Luxembourgish and finally in his Moselle dialect. "Der Feuersalamander" is full of pleasant anecdotes and tales from his younger days as well as his passages describing his political and religious views.
Today Seimetz is remembered as a conscientious artist who dominated the Luxembourg art scene for a considerable time. He was the first Luxembourger to delve into Impressionism and the first, after Nicolas Liez
, to paint out in the open air. He was also the first Luxembourger who managed to live from art alone. Seimetz died in Limpertsberg
, Luxembourg City, on 26 October 1934.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
artist who painted portraits and landscapes in the Impressionist style.
Early life
Born in GrevenmacherGrevenmacher
Grevenmacher is a commune with city status in eastern Luxembourg, near the border with Germany. It is the capital of the canton and the district of Grevenmacher...
on the Moselle, Seimetz first worked as a house painter and decorator until the industrialist Antoine Pescatore noticed his artistic talents and provided support for his education. In 1875, he began his studies in Brussels, continuing at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts
Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich was founded 1808 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria in Munich as the "Royal Academy of Fine Arts" and is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany...
(1879–1881) and finally at the French Academy
École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts is the distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France.The École des Beaux-arts is made up of a vast complex of buildings located at 14 rue Bonaparte, between the quai Malaquais and the rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près,...
(1881–1887).
Career
Seimetz was a prolific artist, creating over a thousand oils, watercolours and sketches of scenes in Luxembourg City and across the country. His work is however rather irregular compared to that of his friend Jean-Pierre Beckius who is regarded as the national "Moselle painter". His most fruitful period was in EchternachEchternach
Echternach is a commune with city status in the canton of Echternach, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher, in eastern Luxembourg. Echternach lies near the border with Germany, and is the oldest town in Luxembourg....
where he painted numerous scenes of the surroundings including the Mullerthal. His pictures are generally realistic and slightly romantic, bordering on Impressionism
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
. Especially after 1900, his style became brighter and more colourful, reflecting the happiness and beauty of the moment he must have experienced.
Seimetz himself was rather like his paintings. He was regarded as something of an eccentric with his full moustache, small beard and curly hair, his floppy hat and flowing clothes. Always optimistic and full of good humour, he led a rather Bohemian yet adventurous life. He travelled to Canada, the West Indies and Mexico. In the United States, he sailed down the Mississippi on a flat boat. His wife, Marie-Antoinette Bourger from Arlon, also a talented artist, did not object to the rather unstable life they led. After Echternach and then Arlon, in 1923 they moved to Luxembourg City
Luxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
where their house packed with old furniture is said to have looked like a museum.
Many of Seimetz' portraits are of exotic figures he met on his travels but there are also excellent paintings of his wife and his Luxembourg friends including Michel Rodange
Michel Rodange
Michel Rodange was a Luxembourgian writer and poet, best known for writing Luxembourg's national epic, Rénert the Fox....
, Sosthène Weis
Sosthène Weis
Sosthène Weis was a prolific Luxembourg artist who painted over 5,000 watercolors, mostly of Luxembourg and its surroundings. He also worked as an architect, designing some of Luxembourg's most imposing buildings.-Early life:...
, Michel Engels
Michel Engels
Michel Engels was a Luxembourg illustrator, painter and art teacher who is remembered principally for his sketches of the fortifications of Luxembourg City and for cofounding the Cercle artistique de Luxembourg.-Early life:...
and Batty Weber. But his masterpiece is generally considered to be his portrait of a fair-haired girl. Many of his self-portraits are reminiscent of Rembrandt and Frans Hals
Frans Hals
Frans Hals was a Dutch Golden Age painter. He is notable for his loose painterly brushwork, and helped introduce this lively style of painting into Dutch art. Hals was also instrumental in the evolution of 17th century group portraiture.-Biography:Hals was born in 1580 or 1581, in Antwerp...
. In 1932, Seimetz painted his last picture. Thereafter he took up writing, first in German, then in Luxembourgish and finally in his Moselle dialect. "Der Feuersalamander" is full of pleasant anecdotes and tales from his younger days as well as his passages describing his political and religious views.
Today Seimetz is remembered as a conscientious artist who dominated the Luxembourg art scene for a considerable time. He was the first Luxembourger to delve into Impressionism and the first, after Nicolas Liez
Nicolas Liez
Nicolas Liez was a Luxembourg painter, sculptor and architect who is remembered in particular for his lithographs of scenes throughout the Grand Duchy and for his oil painting of the City of Luxembourg.-Early life:...
, to paint out in the open air. He was also the first Luxembourger who managed to live from art alone. Seimetz died in Limpertsberg
Limpertsberg
Limpertsberg is a quarter in north-western Luxembourg City, in the centre of Luxembourg.In the south, on the border with the main city is the Glacis, a large open air parking lot which hosts the annual Schueberfouer fair, the largest fair in the country...
, Luxembourg City, on 26 October 1934.
Affiliations and awards
- 1904, Grand-Duc Adolphe PrizePrix Grand-Duc AdolpheThe Prix Grand-Duc Adolphe is a Luxembourgian art award awarded every year to one or more artists exhibiting at the Salon Artistique of the Cercle artistique de Luxembourg ....
together with Dominique LangDominique LangDominique Lang is considered to be Luxembourg's most important Impressionist painter. He painted both portraits and landscapes although he was employed as a high-school teacher.-Career:...
.