James Pradier (born Jean-Jacques Pradier, pronounced[pʁadje]; 23 May 1790 – 4 June 1852) was a Genevan-born French sculptor best known for his work in the neoclassical style.
Born in Geneva (then the Republic of Geneva), Pradier was the son of a Protestant family from Toulouse. He left for Paris in 1807 to work with his elder brother, Charles-Simon Pradier, an engraver, and also attended the École des Beaux-Arts beginning in 1808. He won a Prix de Rome that enabled him to study in Rome from 1814 to 1818 at the Villa Medici. Pradier made his debut at the Salon in 1819 and quickly acquired a reputation as a competent artist. He studied under Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres in Paris. In 1827 he became a member of the Académie des beaux-arts and a professor at the École des Beaux-Arts[1]
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Pradier oversaw the finishing of his sculptures himself. He was a friend of the Romantic poets Alfred de Musset, Victor Hugo, Théophile Gautier, and the young Gustave Flaubert. His workshop was a meeting place for artists, presided over by his mistress, Juliette Drouet, who became Victor Hugo's mistress in 1833. After the liaison with Drouet ended, Pradier married Louise d'Arcet (1814-1885), daughter of the French chemist Jean-Pierre-Joseph d'Arcet, in 1833.[1] They separated in 1845, after Pradier had become aware of her infidelities.[2] They had three children: Charlotte (born 27 July 1834), John (b. 21 May 1836), and Thérèse (b. 3 July 1839). Due to her numerous lovers and her complicated financial lfe, Louise Pradier was among the inspirations for Flaubert when he wrote Madame Bovary.[3]
The cool neoclassical surface finish of Pradier's sculptures is charged with an eroticism that their mythological themes can barely disguise. At the Salon of 1834, Pradier's Satyr and Bacchante created a scandalous sensation. Some claimed to recognize the features of the sculptor and his mistress, Juliette Drouet. When the prudish government of Louis-Philippe refused to purchase it, Count (later Prince) Anatoly Nikolaievich Demidov bought it and took it to his palazzo in Florence – though many years later it would finally be on display in France, part of the Louvre's collection.
Other famous sculptures by Pradier are the figures of Fame in the spandrels of the Arc de Triomphe, decorative figures at the Madeleine, and his twelve Victories inside the dome of the Invalides, all in Paris. For his native Geneva he completed the statue of the Genevan Jean-Jacques Rousseau erected in 1838 on the tiny Île Rousseau, where Lac Léman empties to form the Rhône. Aside from large-scale sculptures, Pradier collaborated with François-Désiré Froment-Meurice, designing jewelry in a 'Renaissance-Romantic' style.
James Pradier is buried in the Père-Lachaise cemetery. Much of the contents of his studio were bought after his death by the city museum of Geneva.
Influenceedit
Pradier's importance as an artist in his day is demonstrated by the fact that his portrait is included in François Joseph Heim's painting Charles X Distributing Prizes to Artists at the Salon of 1824, now in the Louvre Museum, Paris.
Pradier has been largely forgotten in modern times. In 1846 Gustave Flaubert said of him, however:
This is a great artist, a true Greek, the most antique of all the moderns; a man who is distracted by nothing, not by politics, nor socialism, and who, like a true workman, sleeves rolled up, is there to do his task from morning until night with the will to do well and the love of his art.
An exhibition, Statues de chair: sculptures de James Pradier (1790–1852) at Geneva's Musée d'Art et d'Histoire (October 1985 – February 1986) and Paris, Musée du Luxembourg (February – May 1986), roused some interest in Pradier's career and aesthetic.
^ abKjellberg, Pierre (1994). Bronzes of the 19th Century. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. pp. 554–558. ISBN0-88740-629-7.
^Louise d'Arcet. in' Édition des Lettres de Juliette Drouet à Victor Hugo.
^inspiration for Flaubert’s Madame Bovary. Encyclopaedia Britannica.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Pradier.
James Pradier in American public collections at the French Sculpture Census
April 26, 2024
james, pradier, born, jean, jacques, pradier, pronounced, pʁadje, 1790, june, 1852, genevan, born, french, sculptor, best, known, work, neoclassical, style, bust, pradier, eugène, louis, lequesne, from, tombstone, contents, life, work, influence, bibliography,. James Pradier born Jean Jacques Pradier pronounced pʁadje 23 May 1790 4 June 1852 was a Genevan born French sculptor best known for his work in the neoclassical style Bust of Pradier by Eugene Louis Lequesne from his tombstone James Pradier Contents 1 Life and work 2 Influence 3 Bibliography 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksLife and work edit nbsp Jean Baptiste Marie Fouque Portrait of Pradier 1848 Born in Geneva then the Republic of Geneva Pradier was the son of a Protestant family from Toulouse He left for Paris in 1807 to work with his elder brother Charles Simon Pradier an engraver and also attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts beginning in 1808 He won a Prix de Rome that enabled him to study in Rome from 1814 to 1818 at the Villa Medici Pradier made his debut at the Salon in 1819 and quickly acquired a reputation as a competent artist He studied under Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres in Paris In 1827 he became a member of the Academie des beaux arts and a professor at the Ecole des Beaux Arts 1 Unlike many of his contemporaries Pradier oversaw the finishing of his sculptures himself He was a friend of the Romantic poets Alfred de Musset Victor Hugo Theophile Gautier and the young Gustave Flaubert His workshop was a meeting place for artists presided over by his mistress Juliette Drouet who became Victor Hugo s mistress in 1833 After the liaison with Drouet ended Pradier married Louise d Arcet 1814 1885 daughter of the French chemist Jean Pierre Joseph d Arcet in 1833 1 They separated in 1845 after Pradier had become aware of her infidelities 2 They had three children Charlotte born 27 July 1834 John b 21 May 1836 and Therese b 3 July 1839 Due to her numerous lovers and her complicated financial lfe Louise Pradier was among the inspirations for Flaubert when he wrote Madame Bovary 3 nbsp Sappho at a column 1884 Mougins Museum of Classical Art nbsp Satyr and Bacchante 1834 nbsp The Allegorical figure of Industry 1851 Paris Palais Brogniart nbsp Memorial bust of the duc d Orleans 1842 Louvre Museum nbsp Victories surrounding Napoleon s tomb Les Invalides The cool neoclassical surface finish of Pradier s sculptures is charged with an eroticism that their mythological themes can barely disguise At the Salon of 1834 Pradier s Satyr and Bacchante created a scandalous sensation Some claimed to recognize the features of the sculptor and his mistress Juliette Drouet When the prudish government of Louis Philippe refused to purchase it Count later Prince Anatoly Nikolaievich Demidov bought it and took it to his palazzo in Florence though many years later it would finally be on display in France part of the Louvre s collection Other famous sculptures by Pradier are the figures of Fame in the spandrels of the Arc de Triomphe decorative figures at the Madeleine and his twelve Victories inside the dome of the Invalides all in Paris For his native Geneva he completed the statue of the Genevan Jean Jacques Rousseau erected in 1838 on the tiny Ile Rousseau where Lac Leman empties to form the Rhone Aside from large scale sculptures Pradier collaborated with Francois Desire Froment Meurice designing jewelry in a Renaissance Romantic style James Pradier is buried in the Pere Lachaise cemetery Much of the contents of his studio were bought after his death by the city museum of Geneva Influence editPradier s importance as an artist in his day is demonstrated by the fact that his portrait is included in Francois Joseph Heim s painting Charles X Distributing Prizes to Artists at the Salon of 1824 now in the Louvre Museum Paris Pradier has been largely forgotten in modern times In 1846 Gustave Flaubert said of him however This is a great artist a true Greek the most antique of all the moderns a man who is distracted by nothing not by politics nor socialism and who like a true workman sleeves rolled up is there to do his task from morning until night with the will to do well and the love of his art An exhibition Statues de chair sculptures de James Pradier 1790 1852 at Geneva s Musee d Art et d Histoire October 1985 February 1986 and Paris Musee du Luxembourg February May 1986 roused some interest in Pradier s career and aesthetic nbsp The Toilet of Atalanta photographed by Philip Henry Delamotte ca 1859 Pradier s students included Marie Noemi Cadiot 1828 1888 Henri Chapu 1833 1891 Gustave Crauck 1827 1905 Antoine Etex 1808 1888 Eugene Guillaume 1822 1905 Henri Lehmann 1814 1882 Eugene Louis Lequesne 1815 1887 Henri Le Secq 1818 1882 Jacques Leonard Maillet 1823 1894 Pierre Charles Simart 1806 1857Bibliography editFusco Peter and H W Janson editors The Romantics to Rodin Los Angeles County Museum of Art 1980 Hargrove June The Statues of Paris An Open Air Pantheon The Histories of Statues of Famous Men Vendome Press New York 1989 Mackay James The Dictionary of Sculptors in Bronze Antique Collectors Club Woodbridge Suffolk 1977 Nineteenth Century French Sculpture Monuments for the Middle Class J B Speed Museum Louisville Kentucky 1971See also editList of works by James PradierReferences edit a b Kjellberg Pierre 1994 Bronzes of the 19th Century Atglen Pennsylvania Schiffer Publishing Ltd pp 554 558 ISBN 0 88740 629 7 Louise d Arcet in Edition des Lettres de Juliette Drouet a Victor Hugo inspiration for Flaubert s Madame Bovary Encyclopaedia Britannica External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to James Pradier Index of pages devoted to Pradier s works French language James Pradier in American public collections at the French Sculpture Census Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Pradier amp oldid 1212957268, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
