Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
Encyclopedia
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (14 December 1824 – 24 October 1898) was a French painter
, who became the president and co-founder of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts and whose work influenced many other artists.
, Rhône, France, the son of a mining engineer, descendant of an old noble family of Burgundy. Pierre Puvis was educated at the Lyons College and at the Lycée Henri IV in Paris, and was intended to follow his father's profession when a serious illness interrupted his studies. A journey to Italy opened his mind to fresh ideas, and on his return to Paris in 1844 he announced his intention of becoming a painter, and went to study first under Eugène Delacroix
, Henri Scheffer, and then under Thomas Couture
. It was not until a number of years later, when the government of France acquired one of his works, that he gained wide recognition.
In Montmartre
, he had an affair with one of his models, Suzanne Valadon
, who would become one of the leading artists of the day as well as the mother, teacher, and mentor of Maurice Utrillo
.
in nature, even though he studied with some of the romanticists
, and he is credited with influencing an entire generation of painters and sculptors. One of his protégés was Georges de Feure
.
Puvis de Chavannes is noted for painting mural
s, several of which may be seen at the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) in Paris, the Sorbonne
, and the Paris Panthéon, and at Poitiers
, as well as at the Boston Public Library
in the United States.
Puvis de Chavannes was president and co-founder in 1890 of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts (National Society of Fine Arts) founded in Paris. It became the dominant salon of art at the time and held exhibitions of contemporary art that was selected only by a jury composed of the officers of the Société.
Those who translated best the spirit of the work of Pierre-Cécile Puvis de Chavannes' in their own creations were, in Germany, the painter Ludwig von Hofmann
and in France, Auguste Rodin
.
His easel paintings also may be found in many American and European galleries. Some of these paintings are,
or the Musée d'Art Moderne.
The most famous painters who have been awarded the prize are, 1941: Wilhem Van Hasselt, 1944: Jean Gabriel Domergue, 1952: Tristan Klingsor
, 1955: Georges Delplanque, 1957: Albert Decaris
, 1958: Jean Picard Le Doux, 1963: Maurice Boitel
, 1966: Pierre Gaillardot, 1968: Pierre-Henry, 1969: Louis Vuillermoz, 1970: Daniel du Janerand
, 1971: Jean-Pierre Alaux; 1975: Jean Monneret, and for 1987: André Hambourg.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, who became the president and co-founder of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts and whose work influenced many other artists.
Life
He was born Pierre-Cécile Puvis de Chavannes in LyonLyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, Rhône, France, the son of a mining engineer, descendant of an old noble family of Burgundy. Pierre Puvis was educated at the Lyons College and at the Lycée Henri IV in Paris, and was intended to follow his father's profession when a serious illness interrupted his studies. A journey to Italy opened his mind to fresh ideas, and on his return to Paris in 1844 he announced his intention of becoming a painter, and went to study first under Eugène Delacroix
Eugène Delacroix
Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix was a French Romantic artist regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of the French Romantic school...
, Henri Scheffer, and then under Thomas Couture
Thomas Couture
Thomas Couture was an influential French history painter and teacher. Couture taught such later luminaries of the art world as Édouard Manet, Henri Fantin-Latour, John La Farge, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, Karel Javůrek, and J-N Sylvestre.-Life:He was born at Senlis, Oise, France...
. It was not until a number of years later, when the government of France acquired one of his works, that he gained wide recognition.
In Montmartre
Montmartre
Montmartre is a hill which is 130 metres high, giving its name to the surrounding district, in the north of Paris in the 18th arrondissement, a part of the Right Bank. Montmartre is primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur on its summit and as a nightclub district...
, he had an affair with one of his models, Suzanne Valadon
Suzanne Valadon
Suzanne Valadon was a French painter born Marie-Clémentine Valadon at Bessines-sur-Gartempe, Haute-Vienne, France. In 1894, Valadon became the first woman painter admitted to the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts...
, who would become one of the leading artists of the day as well as the mother, teacher, and mentor of Maurice Utrillo
Maurice Utrillo
Maurice Utrillo, , born Maurice Valadon, was a French painter who specialized in cityscapes. Born in the Montmartre quarter of Paris, France, Utrillo is one of the few famous painters of Montmartre who were born there....
.
Work
His work is seen as symbolistSymbolism (arts)
Symbolism was a late nineteenth-century art movement of French, Russian and Belgian origin in poetry and other arts. In literature, the style had its beginnings with the publication Les Fleurs du mal by Charles Baudelaire...
in nature, even though he studied with some of the romanticists
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
, and he is credited with influencing an entire generation of painters and sculptors. One of his protégés was Georges de Feure
Georges de Feure
Georges de Feure was a French painter, theatrical designer, and industrial art designer in the symbolism and Art Nouveau styles....
.
Puvis de Chavannes is noted for painting mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s, several of which may be seen at the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) in Paris, the Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, and the Paris Panthéon, and at Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
, as well as at the Boston Public Library
Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library is a municipal public library system in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was the first publicly supported municipal library in the United States, the first large library open to the public in the United States, and the first public library to allow people to...
in the United States.
Puvis de Chavannes was president and co-founder in 1890 of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts (National Society of Fine Arts) founded in Paris. It became the dominant salon of art at the time and held exhibitions of contemporary art that was selected only by a jury composed of the officers of the Société.
Those who translated best the spirit of the work of Pierre-Cécile Puvis de Chavannes' in their own creations were, in Germany, the painter Ludwig von Hofmann
Ludwig von Hofmann
Ludwig von Hofmann was a German painter. His style was impressionist, and he painted many paintings, such as his well-known "Rain", in a mixture of impressionist and classical. He competed in the Art competitions at the 1928 Summer Olympics. He was also blind in one eye.-References:*...
and in France, Auguste Rodin
Auguste Rodin
François-Auguste-René Rodin , known as Auguste Rodin , was a French sculptor. Although Rodin is generally considered the progenitor of modern sculpture, he did not set out to rebel against the past...
.
His easel paintings also may be found in many American and European galleries. Some of these paintings are,
- Death and the Maiden
- The Dream
- The Poor Fisherman / 1881, Oil on canvas
- Vigilance
- The Meditation
- Mary Magdalene at Saint Baume
- Saint Genoveva
- Young Girls at the Seaside / 1887, Oil on canvas
- Mad Woman at the Edge of the Sea
- Hope
- Hope (nude)
- Kneeling nude woman, viewed from back
- The Sacred Grove
Puvis de Chavannes prize
Beginning in 1926, The Prix Puvis de Chavannes (Puvis de Chavannes prize) was awarded by the National Society of Fine Arts (Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts). The Prix Puvis de Chavannes is the retrospective exhibition in Paris of the main works of the artist awarded the prize that year. During the twentieth century, this exhibition was located at the Grand PalaisGrand Palais
This article contains material abridged and translated from the French and Spanish Wikipedia.The Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées, commonly known as the Grand Palais , is a large historic site, exhibition hall and museum complex located at the Champs-Élysées in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France...
or the Musée d'Art Moderne.
The most famous painters who have been awarded the prize are, 1941: Wilhem Van Hasselt, 1944: Jean Gabriel Domergue, 1952: Tristan Klingsor
Tristan Klingsor
Tristan Klingsor, birth name Léon Leclère , was a French poet, musician, painter and art critic, best known for his artistic association with the composer Maurice Ravel.His pseudonym, combining the names of Wagner's hero Tristan and his villain Klingsor...
, 1955: Georges Delplanque, 1957: Albert Decaris
Albert Decaris
Albert Decaris was a French artist, engraver, painter and aquarellist.At only 19, he won the Concours de Rome, the most prised award for young artists in France at the time...
, 1958: Jean Picard Le Doux, 1963: Maurice Boitel
Maurice Boitel
Maurice Boitel Maurice Boitel Maurice Boitel (July 31, 1919 – August 11, 2007 in Audresselles (Pas-de-Calais), was a French painter.-Artistic life:Maurice Boitel belonged to the art movement called "La Jeune Peinture" ("Young Picture") of the School of Paris, with painters like Bernard Buffet, Yves...
, 1966: Pierre Gaillardot, 1968: Pierre-Henry, 1969: Louis Vuillermoz, 1970: Daniel du Janerand
Daniel du Janerand
Daniel du Janerand was a French painter artistborn in the "Marais", center of Paris, on 18 July 1919.-Artistic life:*École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris;*Member founder of the Salon "Comparaisons";...
, 1971: Jean-Pierre Alaux; 1975: Jean Monneret, and for 1987: André Hambourg.
Further reading
- Shaw, Jennifer L., Dream States: Puvis De Chavannes, Modernism, and the Fantasy of France (2002), Yale University Press, ISBN 0-300-08382-3