CHAVANNES, PUVIS DE (French). Contemporary Painter. "M. Puvis de Chavannes", says a writer in the Athenaeum, " has not long survived Sir E. Burne Jones, to whom Frenchmen were fond of comparing him, although there was really little similarity between them, for the one was essentially a far-away descendant of the later Renaissance in which the influence of the classical revival predominated, and the other distinctly derived his style from the earlier Renaissance, when the elements of romance and wonder were prevalent. Puvis de Chavannes was born at Lyons on December 14th, 1824, died October 1898, and was a pupil of Henri Scheffer and Couture, the latter of whom had a great influence on his pupil. One of his earliest contributions to the Salon was a Pietá exhibited in 1850. For several years afterwards his pictures were steadily refused ; but, as our distinguished contributor M. André Michel remarks in an article in the Débats, he seems in later life to have thought little of these productions, and to have considered the rejection of them not unmerited. At last, in 1859, the ' Retour de Chasse ' now in the Gallery at Marseilles, was hung in the Salon, a fragment for a scheme of decoration for a villa of his brother's, and he long afterwards remarked to M. Michel: "C'est a partir de ce moment-lá que je sentis autour de moi de l'eau pour nager. " The young artist was taken up by the Corporation of Amiens, and he painted for the Musee de Picardie ' Bellum et Concordia 'in 1861 ; ' Le Travail et le Repos ' followed two years afterwards ;' Ave Picardia Nutrix' in 1865, and ' La Vigilance et la Fantaisie ' in 1866. ' Le Sommeil ' of 1867 is at Lille, ' La Moisson ' at Chartres ; while 'Charles Martel, Vainqueur des Sarrazins', and 'Sainte Radegonde ' were painted for the Hôtel de Ville at Poitiers in 1874. His great series of works at the Pantheon, ' L'Enfance de Sainte Geneviéve ' were executed between 1876 and 1878. These established his reputation, and he was afterwards employed upon the hemicycle of the new Sorbonne. 'Pro Patria Ludus' was painted for the staircase of the Museum of Amiens, and won him the Medaille d'or when shown at the Salon. ' Inter Artes et Naturam, ' which adorns the Museum at Rouen, was exhibited at the Salon of the Champ de Mars, of which he was one of the principal founders, and President after the death of Meissonier. ' L'Ete ' and 'L'Hiver ', exhibited in the same gallery, decorate the Hôtel de Ville at Paris. Puvis de Chavannes had long suffered from the malady which carried him off, but he was at work at his studio in the Rue de Neuilly within a fortnight of his decease. His ' Geneviéve veillant sur Paris' was shown in 1897, and the cartoon for 'Geneviéve ravitaillant Paris' was at the Champ de Mars in 1897. He was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1867, and Officer in 1891.' The great painter merits a place here as having greatly contributed to the present artistic revival ; he also directly and indirectly aided medallists by designs and suggestions for their works. Bibliography. — Chavignerie et Auvray, op. cit. — Athenaeum, 29th October 1898.
Source: Biographical dictionary of medallists; coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C. 500-A.D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer, London 1904
Source: Biographical dictionary of medallists; coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C. 500-A.D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer, London 1904
HOLDERMANN, GEORG
HOLDERMANN, GEORG (Germ.). Nuremberg Artist, probably a Goldsmith, of the first half of the seventeenth century ; his medalwork is comprised between 1610 and 1629. Erman observes that Holdermann' s Portrait-medal of himself (illustrated) offers very fine work, but most of his productions are weak. Erman gives the following list of the artist's medals : Undated, Pirkheimer and Dürer (Trés. 1, 5; Berlin Mus.); — 1610, The Artist himself (aet. 25) and his mother (?) Maria Magdalena (Berlin); (illus...
[ More about HOLDERMANN, GEORG ]
HOLDERMANN, GEORG (Germ.). Nuremberg Artist, probably a Goldsmith, of the first half of the seventeenth century ; his medalwork is comprised between 1610 and 1629. Erman observes that Holdermann' s Portrait-medal of himself (illustrated) offers very fine work, but most of his productions are weak. Erman gives the following list of the artist's medals : Undated, Pirkheimer and Dürer (Trés. 1, 5; Berlin Mus.); — 1610, The Artist himself (aet. 25) and his mother (?) Maria Magdalena (Berlin); (illus...
[ More about HOLDERMANN, GEORG ]
HOLTZHEIMER, KARL LUDWIG
HOLTZHEIMER, KARL LUDWIG (Germ.). Die-sinker at Hanau, circa 1775-1820. He was employed at the Hanau Mint in the capa- city of Engraver of the coins. On a Bieberer mining Thaler, 1796 (illustrated), with bust of Landgrave William IX. of Hesse, his signature H occurs on truncation, and his full name HOLTZEMER is found on a medal of 1803, struck by the town of Hanau to com- memorate the accession to the dignity of a Prince-Elector of William I. of Hesse; also on a medal of 1790 on the Emperor Leop...
[ More about HOLTZHEIMER, KARL LUDWIG ]
HOLTZHEIMER, KARL LUDWIG (Germ.). Die-sinker at Hanau, circa 1775-1820. He was employed at the Hanau Mint in the capa- city of Engraver of the coins. On a Bieberer mining Thaler, 1796 (illustrated), with bust of Landgrave William IX. of Hesse, his signature H occurs on truncation, and his full name HOLTZEMER is found on a medal of 1803, struck by the town of Hanau to com- memorate the accession to the dignity of a Prince-Elector of William I. of Hesse; also on a medal of 1790 on the Emperor Leop...
[ More about HOLTZHEIMER, KARL LUDWIG ]
HOLTZHEY, MARTIN
HOLTZHEY, MARTIN (Dutch). Medallist of the first half of the eighteenth century; born at Ulm in 1697, settled at Amsterdam, where he obtained the appointment of Master of the Mint, and died at Middelburg in 1764. Mr. Grueber calls him "an excellent medallist ". By him are numerous medals, amongst which I note : Second Treaty of Vienna, 1731 (2 types). — Projected Marriage of William, Prince of Orange, and Princess Anne, 1733; — Their Marriage, 1734 (4 types); — Arrival of William, Prince of Oran...
[ More about HOLTZHEY, MARTIN ]
HOLTZHEY, MARTIN (Dutch). Medallist of the first half of the eighteenth century; born at Ulm in 1697, settled at Amsterdam, where he obtained the appointment of Master of the Mint, and died at Middelburg in 1764. Mr. Grueber calls him "an excellent medallist ". By him are numerous medals, amongst which I note : Second Treaty of Vienna, 1731 (2 types). — Projected Marriage of William, Prince of Orange, and Princess Anne, 1733; — Their Marriage, 1734 (4 types); — Arrival of William, Prince of Oran...
[ More about HOLTZHEY, MARTIN ]
HOLY FRÉRES
HOLY FRÉRES (Swiss.). Watch-case Manufacturers and Die-sinkers, established since 1893 at St. Imier (Switzerland). The firm, directed by M. Franz Holy, born in November 1867 and M. Jules Holy, born in November 1872, bears a well-earned repu- tation for original work and exceptional taste in the decoration of watch-cases ; indeed for finished workmanship, the quality of their productions can hardly be surpassed. Many are the elegant and charming designs of every variety that ornament in gold, sil...
[ More about HOLY FRÉRES ]
HOLY FRÉRES (Swiss.). Watch-case Manufacturers and Die-sinkers, established since 1893 at St. Imier (Switzerland). The firm, directed by M. Franz Holy, born in November 1867 and M. Jules Holy, born in November 1872, bears a well-earned repu- tation for original work and exceptional taste in the decoration of watch-cases ; indeed for finished workmanship, the quality of their productions can hardly be surpassed. Many are the elegant and charming designs of every variety that ornament in gold, sil...
[ More about HOLY FRÉRES ]