Michel Maximilien Leenhardt (2 April 1853, Montpellier – 15 May 1941, Clapiers) was a French painter, known for landscapes, history paintings and genre scenes.
His father was a bank manager.[1] In 1872, he entered the "École supérieure des beaux-arts de Montpellier [fr]", where he studied with the history and genre painter, Ernest Michel [fr]. During his time there, he made a study trip to Austria. In 1877, together with his cousin, Eugène Burnand, he went to Paris, where he studied briefly at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts with Alexandre Cabanel.[2]
Following that, he travelled throughout Normandy, visiting Mont Saint Michel, and Brittany. Upon returning home, he executed portraits of the professors from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Montpellier. He began exhibiting at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1879 and would be a regular participant there until 1936.
He continued travelling in 1880-1881; across the continent to the Eastern Mediterranean, spending some time in Istanbul, then passing through Cairo and Piraeus. During his stay in Istanbul, he became friends with the Ottoman painter, Osman Hamdi Bey. In 1882, he made it to the second tier in the competition for the Prix de Rome.[2]
He eventually settled in Paris, but made frequent trips home. During one visit, in 1888, he created panels for the Opéra national de Montpellier.[2] Two years later, he married Marie Castan, the daughter of one of the professors he had painted at the Faculty. After that, he returned to Montpellier permanently and opened a studio. His wife died only three years later, while giving birth to their second son.[1]
In 1900, he was one of numerous painters chosen to decorate the restaurant at the Gare de Lyon (now known as Le Train Bleu), creating a panel depicting Montpellier.[3] Many of his works draw their inspiration from the history of Protestantism in France. He also did some illustrations, notably for Gens de la Grande Terre by Michel Leiris and, as did most French artists of that period, designed posters.
He died during the German Occupation and was buried at the Protestant Cemetery in Montpellier. The following year, a major retrospective was held at the Musée Fabre. A plaza and a street near his studio have been named after him.
^Louise Gaggini, et al., Le Train Bleu, éd. Presse Lois Unis Service, Paris, 1990 ISBN2-908557-01-0
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Max Leenhardt.
Max Leenhardt website, main page
Sketches by Leenhardt @ La Cabane Trempée
January 01, 1970
leenhardt, michel, maximilien, leenhardt, april, 1853, montpellier, 1941, clapiers, french, painter, known, landscapes, history, paintings, genre, scenes, date, unknown, contents, biography, selected, paintings, references, external, linksbiography, edithis, f. Michel Maximilien Leenhardt 2 April 1853 Montpellier 15 May 1941 Clapiers was a French painter known for landscapes history paintings and genre scenes Max Leenhardt date unknown Contents 1 Biography 2 Selected paintings 3 References 4 External linksBiography editHis father was a bank manager 1 In 1872 he entered the Ecole superieure des beaux arts de Montpellier fr where he studied with the history and genre painter Ernest Michel fr During his time there he made a study trip to Austria In 1877 together with his cousin Eugene Burnand he went to Paris where he studied briefly at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux Arts with Alexandre Cabanel 2 nbsp In Clapisses near Aulas Following that he travelled throughout Normandy visiting Mont Saint Michel and Brittany Upon returning home he executed portraits of the professors from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Montpellier He began exhibiting at the Salon des Artistes Francais in 1879 and would be a regular participant there until 1936 He continued travelling in 1880 1881 across the continent to the Eastern Mediterranean spending some time in Istanbul then passing through Cairo and Piraeus During his stay in Istanbul he became friends with the Ottoman painter Osman Hamdi Bey In 1882 he made it to the second tier in the competition for the Prix de Rome 2 He eventually settled in Paris but made frequent trips home During one visit in 1888 he created panels for the Opera national de Montpellier 2 Two years later he married Marie Castan the daughter of one of the professors he had painted at the Faculty After that he returned to Montpellier permanently and opened a studio His wife died only three years later while giving birth to their second son 1 In 1900 he was one of numerous painters chosen to decorate the restaurant at the Gare de Lyon now known as Le Train Bleu creating a panel depicting Montpellier 3 Many of his works draw their inspiration from the history of Protestantism in France He also did some illustrations notably for Gens de la Grande Terre by Michel Leiris and as did most French artists of that period designed posters He died during the German Occupation and was buried at the Protestant Cemetery in Montpellier The following year a major retrospective was held at the Musee Fabre A plaza and a street near his studio have been named after him Selected paintings edit nbsp Huguenot Prisoners at the Tour de Constance nbsp Preaching in the Desert nbsp Students Celebrating the Sixth Centennial of Maguelone CathedralReferences edit a b Brief biography the Virtual Museum of Protestantism a b c Brief biography the Max Leenhardt website Louise Gaggini et al Le Train Bleu ed Presse Lois Unis Service Paris 1990 ISBN 2 908557 01 0External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Max Leenhardt Max Leenhardt website main page Sketches by Leenhardt La Cabane Trempee Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Max Leenhardt amp oldid 1176835615, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
