Mathurin Méheut
Encyclopedia
Mathurin Méheut was a French
painter, ceramicist, engraver, and etcher best known for his depictions of Breton scenes, the sea, and nature.
Méheut was born into a family of artisans in Lamballe
, Brittany
, and apprenticed to a house painter before entering the École des Beaux-Arts de Rennes in 1898, from which he graduated at age 20. He then attended the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris
, working for the revue Arts et Décoration to finance his studies. In 1906 he exhibited with the Société des Artistes Français
.
From 1910-1912 Méheut collaborated with naturalists at the Roscoff
marine biology station to depict marine life. This period culminated in a book (Etude de la mer, flore et faune de la Manche et de l’Océan) and 450 works exhibited at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs
in 1913. In 1914 he was awarded a travel scholarship by the Foundation Albert Kahn
for visits to Hawaii
and Japan
in 1914, but his trip was cut short by World War I
.
In 1921 Méheut became the Marine Department
's official painter and in 1925 began decorating commercial passenger ships, including the SS Normandie
. Between world wars, he illustrated books for authors including Colette
, Maurice Genevoix
, and Pierre Loti
, and created ceramics at Henriot
in Quimper, at the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres
, and at Villeroy & Boch
in Sarre. During the 1940s he taught at the École des Beaux-Arts de Rennes, served as decorator for the Institut de Géologie de Rennes, and completed his celebrated illustrations of Florian Le Roy's .
The Musée Mathurin Méheut in Lamballe, created in 1972, preserves his work.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
painter, ceramicist, engraver, and etcher best known for his depictions of Breton scenes, the sea, and nature.
Méheut was born into a family of artisans in Lamballe
Lamballe
Lamballe is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.It lies on the Gouessant east-southeast of Saint-Brieuc by rail.- History :...
, Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, and apprenticed to a house painter before entering the École des Beaux-Arts de Rennes in 1898, from which he graduated at age 20. He then attended the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, working for the revue Arts et Décoration to finance his studies. In 1906 he exhibited with the Société des Artistes Français
Société des artistes français
The Société des Artistes Français is the association of French painters and sculptors established in 1881. Its annual exhibition is called the Salon....
.
From 1910-1912 Méheut collaborated with naturalists at the Roscoff
Roscoff
Roscoff is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.The nearby Île de Batz, called Enez Vaz in Breton, is a small island that can be reached by launch from the harbour....
marine biology station to depict marine life. This period culminated in a book (Etude de la mer, flore et faune de la Manche et de l’Océan) and 450 works exhibited at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs
Musée des Arts Décoratifs
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, a museum of the decorative arts and design, 107 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1er, France. It is part of Les Arts Décoratifs.-The museum:...
in 1913. In 1914 he was awarded a travel scholarship by the Foundation Albert Kahn
Albert Kahn (banker)
Albert Kahn was a French banker and philanthropist. He was born Abraham Kahn at Marmoutier, Bas-Rhin, France on 3 March 1860, into a Jewish family, one of 5 children of his parents, Louis and Babette Kahn. He died at Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France on 14 November 1940.In 1879 Kahn...
for visits to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1914, but his trip was cut short by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In 1921 Méheut became the Marine Department
Marine Department
The Marine Department of the Hong Kong Government is responsible for maintaining safety and environmental protection of the harbour , ships registered/foreign ships in Hong Kong and monitor shipping traffic in Hong Kong Waters, search and rescue operations for large waters of the South China...
's official painter and in 1925 began decorating commercial passenger ships, including the SS Normandie
SS Normandie
SS Normandie was an ocean liner built in Saint-Nazaire, France for the French Line Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. She entered service in 1935 as the largest and fastest passenger ship afloat; she is still the most powerful steam turbo-electric-propelled passenger ship ever built.Her novel...
. Between world wars, he illustrated books for authors including Colette
Colette
Colette was the surname of the French novelist and performer Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette . She is best known for her novel Gigi, upon which Lerner and Loewe based the stage and film musical comedies of the same title.-Early life and marriage:Colette was born to retired military officer Jules-Joseph...
, Maurice Genevoix
Maurice Genevoix
Maurice Genevoix was a French author.Born on 29 November 1890 at Decize, Nièvre as Maurice-Charles-Louis-Genevoix, Genevoix spent his childhood in Châteauneuf-sur-Loire. After attending the local school, he studied at the lycée of Orléans and the Lycée Lakanal...
, and Pierre Loti
Pierre Loti
Pierre Loti was a French novelist and naval officer.-Biography:Loti's education began in his birthplace, Rochefort, Charente-Maritime. At the age of seventeen he entered the naval school in Brest and studied at Le Borda. He gradually rose in his profession, attaining the rank of captain in 1906...
, and created ceramics at Henriot
Henriot
Henriot may refer to:* Henriot , French caricaturist* Philippe Henriot, a French politician in the 1930s and 1940s, and supporter of Nazi Germany* François Hanriot, a French popular leader during the French Revolution...
in Quimper, at the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres
Manufacture nationale de Sèvres
The manufacture nationale de Sèvres is a Frit porcelain porcelain tendre factory at Sèvres, France. Formerly a royal, then an imperial factory, the facility is now run by the Ministry of Culture.-Brief history:...
, and at Villeroy & Boch
Villeroy & Boch
Villeroy & Boch is a large manufacturer of ceramics with the company headquarters located in Mettlach, Germany.-Company history:The company began in the tiny French village of Audun le Tiche, where François Boch set up a pottery company with his three sons in 1748. Later, the company moved to...
in Sarre. During the 1940s he taught at the École des Beaux-Arts de Rennes, served as decorator for the Institut de Géologie de Rennes, and completed his celebrated illustrations of Florian Le Roy's .
The Musée Mathurin Méheut in Lamballe, created in 1972, preserves his work.