Charles l’Eplattenier
Encyclopedia
Charles L'Eplattenier was a Swiss painter and architect.
A contemporary and associate of René Chapallaz, Léon Gallet
, and Le Corbusier
, L'Eplattenier is considered one of the foremost exponents of Swiss Art Nouveau
despite working almost exclusively in the town of La Chaux de Fonds, where from 1897 he taught at the school of decorative arts. He taught the architect Le Corbusier
. It is possible that Le Corbusier was influenced in his choice of pseudonym by the name of his teacher.
At the time La Chaux-de-Fonds was developing into one of the leading centres of the Swiss watch industry. Increasing prosperity created a large demand for property and art in the style of the time among the wealthy citizens of the city. L'Eplattenier and his students developed a local form of Art Nouveau known as style sapin ("pine style") after a frequently recurring motif. Style sapin is characterised by an intensive study of nature and the artistic stylization of indigenous structures.
L'Eplattenier's major works include monuments to the Republic and the politician Numa Droz
in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and figures and decorative elements in the town's crematorium and at the cemetery. Upon funding for construction at the bequeth of Léon Gallet
, the Musée des beaux-arts de La Chaux-de-Fonds (Beaux Arts Museum of La-Chaux-de-Fonds), was built to L'Eplattenier's designs.
L'Eplattenier also designed a prototype military helmet designed, which was shunned in favour of the Imboden helmet. They are now prized collectors' items.
A lover of the outdoors, L'Eplattenier fell to his death from one of the rocky promonitories while hiking along the River Doubs, near Brenets, Switzerland.
A contemporary and associate of René Chapallaz, Léon Gallet
Léon Gallet
Léon L. Gallet was the eldest son of Julien Gallet , founder of the Gallet & Co. watch manufactory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. During his time as family patriarch, Léon L. Gallet was responsible for the creation of numerous Swiss and American watch brands including National Park,...
, and Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier , was a Swiss-born French architect, designer, urbanist, writer and painter, famous for being one of the pioneers of what now is called modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930...
, L'Eplattenier is considered one of the foremost exponents of Swiss Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
despite working almost exclusively in the town of La Chaux de Fonds, where from 1897 he taught at the school of decorative arts. He taught the architect Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier , was a Swiss-born French architect, designer, urbanist, writer and painter, famous for being one of the pioneers of what now is called modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930...
. It is possible that Le Corbusier was influenced in his choice of pseudonym by the name of his teacher.
At the time La Chaux-de-Fonds was developing into one of the leading centres of the Swiss watch industry. Increasing prosperity created a large demand for property and art in the style of the time among the wealthy citizens of the city. L'Eplattenier and his students developed a local form of Art Nouveau known as style sapin ("pine style") after a frequently recurring motif. Style sapin is characterised by an intensive study of nature and the artistic stylization of indigenous structures.
L'Eplattenier's major works include monuments to the Republic and the politician Numa Droz
Numa Droz
Numa Droz was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council .Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, he was elected to cantonal government of Neuchâtel in 1871 and to the Swiss Council of States in 1872....
in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and figures and decorative elements in the town's crematorium and at the cemetery. Upon funding for construction at the bequeth of Léon Gallet
Léon Gallet
Léon L. Gallet was the eldest son of Julien Gallet , founder of the Gallet & Co. watch manufactory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. During his time as family patriarch, Léon L. Gallet was responsible for the creation of numerous Swiss and American watch brands including National Park,...
, the Musée des beaux-arts de La Chaux-de-Fonds (Beaux Arts Museum of La-Chaux-de-Fonds), was built to L'Eplattenier's designs.
L'Eplattenier also designed a prototype military helmet designed, which was shunned in favour of the Imboden helmet. They are now prized collectors' items.
A lover of the outdoors, L'Eplattenier fell to his death from one of the rocky promonitories while hiking along the River Doubs, near Brenets, Switzerland.