George Minne
Encyclopedia
George Minne (30 August 1866 - 18 February 1941) was born in Ghent (Belgium) as the son of an architect (Fredericus Augustus Minne). Birth names : Georgius Joannes Leonardus (sources : birth certificates from Ghent)
He was a Belgian artist and sculptor famous for his idealized depictions of man's inner spiritual conflicts. A contemporary of Gustav Klimt
and Egon Schiele
, Minne shows many similarities in both form and subject matter to the Viennese Secessionists
, the fathers of Art Nouveau
.
Minne trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts
in Ghent, then in the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts
in Brussels from 1895 through 1899, and in 1891 was elected a member of the arts group Les XX
. His most famous works are the "Kneeling Youth" series of sculptures, including "The Fountain of Kneeling Youths", a bronze-cast fountain in his home town of Ghent
(the Marble originals are at the Folkwang Museum in Essen
, Germany
), as well as various smaller sculptures in private and museum holdings, such as the pair of "Kneeling Youths" at the Neue Galerie
in New York City
and the plaster of "Kneeling Youth" (1898) acquired in 2011 by the National Gallery of Victoria
, Melbourne
.
For the Basilica of Koekelberg Minne made the sculpture of the Sacred Heart for the altar in the apse. He also made the bronze calvarie at the outside of the basilica.
For his achievements he was made a baron on 25 April 1931. Minne's son, also called George Minne, who lives in Armagh
, Northern Ireland
, is the former organist of Armagh Cathedral.
He was a Belgian artist and sculptor famous for his idealized depictions of man's inner spiritual conflicts. A contemporary of Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt was an Austrian Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. His major works include paintings, murals, sketches, and other art objects...
and Egon Schiele
Egon Schiele
Egon Schiele was an Austrian painter. A protégé of Gustav Klimt, Schiele was a major figurative painter of the early 20th century. His work is noted for its intensity, and the many self-portraits the artist produced...
, Minne shows many similarities in both form and subject matter to the Viennese Secessionists
Vienna Secession
The Vienna Secession was formed in 1897 by a group of Austrian artists who had resigned from the Association of Austrian Artists, housed in the Vienna Künstlerhaus. This movement included painters, sculptors, and architects...
, the fathers of 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"...
.
Minne trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts
Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Ghent)
The Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent is one of the oldest art schools in Belgium, now part of the Hogeschool Gent.The Academy was founded in 1741 as a private school in the home of Philippe Karel Marissal, and provided a royal charter in 1771 by empress Maria Theresa of Austria...
in Ghent, then in the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts
Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts
The Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels is an art school, founded in 1711.The faculty and alumni of ARBA include some of the most famous names in Belgian painting, sculpture, and architecture: James Ensor, Rene Magritte, and Paul Delvaux...
in Brussels from 1895 through 1899, and in 1891 was elected a member of the arts group Les XX
Les XX
Les XX was a group of twenty Belgian painters, designers and sculptors, formed in 1883 by the Brussels lawyer, publisher, and entrepreneur Octave Maus. For ten years 'Les Vingt' , as they called themselves, held an annual exhibition of their art; each year twenty international artists were also...
. His most famous works are the "Kneeling Youth" series of sculptures, including "The Fountain of Kneeling Youths", a bronze-cast fountain in his home town of Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
(the Marble originals are at the Folkwang Museum in Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
), as well as various smaller sculptures in private and museum holdings, such as the pair of "Kneeling Youths" at the Neue Galerie
Neue Galerie
The Neue Galerie New York is a museum of early twentieth-century German and Austrian art and design located at 86th Street and Fifth Avenue in New York City, United States...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and the plaster of "Kneeling Youth" (1898) acquired in 2011 by the National Gallery of Victoria
National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria is an art gallery and museum in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1861, it is the oldest and the largest public art gallery in Australia. Since December 2003, NGV has operated across two sites...
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
For the Basilica of Koekelberg Minne made the sculpture of the Sacred Heart for the altar in the apse. He also made the bronze calvarie at the outside of the basilica.
For his achievements he was made a baron on 25 April 1931. Minne's son, also called George Minne, who lives in Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, is the former organist of Armagh Cathedral.