Paul Richer
Encyclopedia
Paul Marie Louis Pierre Richer (January 17, 1849 - December 17, 1933) was a French anatomist, physiologist, sculptor and anatomical artist who was a native of Chartres
. He was a professor of artistic anatomy at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts
in Paris
, as well as a member of the Académie Nationale de Médecine
(1898).
Richer was an assistant to Jean-Martin Charcot
at the Salpêtrière, and from 1882 to 1896 was chief of the laboratory at the Salpêtrière Hospital. With Charcot he performed research of hysteria
and epilepsy
, and also performed studies of medicine and its relationship to art.
In 1903, Richer was appointed to the chair of artistic anatomy at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, and in 1907-08 was president of the Société Française d'Histoire de la Médecine (French Society for the History of Medicine). His sculpture
s can be found in museums throughout Europe, including the Musée d'Orsay
.
Chartres
Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
. He was a professor of artistic anatomy at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
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...
, as well as a member of the Académie Nationale de Médecine
Académie Nationale de Médecine
Académie Nationale de Médecine, or National Academy of Medicine was created in 1820 by king Louis XVIII at the urging of baron Antoine Portal. At its inception, the institution was known as the Académie Royale de Médecine...
(1898).
Richer was an assistant to Jean-Martin Charcot
Jean-Martin Charcot
Jean-Martin Charcot was a French neurologist and professor of anatomical pathology. He is known as "the founder of modern neurology" and is "associated with at least 15 medical eponyms", including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis...
at the Salpêtrière, and from 1882 to 1896 was chief of the laboratory at the Salpêtrière Hospital. With Charcot he performed research of hysteria
Hysteria
Hysteria, in its colloquial use, describes unmanageable emotional excesses. People who are "hysterical" often lose self-control due to an overwhelming fear that may be caused by multiple events in one's past that involved some sort of severe conflict; the fear can be centered on a body part, or,...
and epilepsy
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
, and also performed studies of medicine and its relationship to art.
In 1903, Richer was appointed to the chair of artistic anatomy at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, and in 1907-08 was president of the Société Française d'Histoire de la Médecine (French Society for the History of Medicine). His sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
s can be found in museums throughout Europe, including the Musée d'Orsay
Musée d'Orsay
The Musée d'Orsay is a museum in Paris, France, on the left bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, an impressive Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1915, including paintings, sculptures, furniture,...
.
Published works
- Étude descriptive de la grande attaque hystérique ou attaque hystéro-épileptique et de ses principales variétés (1879)
- Études cliniques sur l'hystéro-épilepsie ou grande hystérie (1881)
- Les Démoniaques dans l'art, with Jean-Martin Charcot (1887)
- Hypnotisme, with Georges Gilles de la TouretteGeorges Gilles de la TouretteGeorges Albert Édouard Brutus Gilles de la Tourette was a French neurologist who is the eponym of Tourette syndrome, a neurological condition...
(1887) - Dictionaire encyclopédique des sciences médicales, with Georges Gilles de la Tourette (1887)
- Nouvelle Iconographie de la Salpêtrière (1888-1917)
- Les Difformes et les malades dans l'art, with Jean-Martin Charcot (1889)
- Anatomie artistique : description des formes extérieures du corps humain au repos et dans les principaux mouvements: avec 110 planches renfermant plus de 300 figures dessinées (1890)
- Paralysies et contractures hystériques (1892)
- L'Anatomie dans l'art : proportions du corps humain, canons artistiques et canons scientifiques, conférence faite à l'Association française pour l'avancement des sciences (1893)
- Physiologie artistique de l'homme en mouvement (1895)
- Dialogues sur l'art et la science (1897)
- Introduction à l'étude de la figure humaine (1902)
- Nouvelle anatomie artistique du corps humain (6 volumes, 1906-1929)
- Nouvelle anatomie artistique. Les animaux (1910)
- Lettre à en-tête de l"Institut de France (1925)