Henri Lehmann
Encyclopedia
Henri Lehmann was a German-born French historical painter and portraitist.
__NOEDITSECTION__
, Schleswig
, Germany, he received his first art tuition from his father Leo Lehmann (1782–1859) and from other painters in Hamburg
. In 1831, at the age of 17, he travelled to Paris
to study art under Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres
, becoming one of his most accomplished pupils and a close associate for many years. His first exhibition was at the Salon in 1835 where he won a second-class medal. Thereafter he exhibited regularly at the Salon, winning first-class medals in 1840, 1848 and 1855.
Lehmann lived in Rome
from 1838–41, where he continued his artistic education with Ingres (who was by then Director of the Académie de France
there), and collaborated with him on some works - including Ingres' painting "Luigi Cherubini and the Muse of Lyric Poetry". In Rome Lehmann befriended Franz Liszt
and his lover, the author Marie d'Agoult
, corresponding with them for many years and painting portraits of them.
.jpg)
Lehmann settled permanently in Paris in 1842. He was awarded many commissions for large-scale public works, such as at the Hôtel de Ville
, the Church of Ste-Clothilde, the Palais du Luxembourg
, the Palais de Justice
, and the Chapel of the Jeunes Aveugles in the Church of Saint-Merri
on Rue Saint-Martin. He went on to paint portraits of many well-known and distinguished people of the day including Charles Gounod
, Victor Cousin
, Liszt
, Chopin, Stendhal
, the Princess Christina Belgiojoso
and many others.
In 1846 Lehmann received the Légion d'honneur
and in 1847 became a French citizen, opening his studio in that same year. In 1861 he became a teacher at the famous École des Beaux-Arts
and was appointed Professor in 1875. He founded the Lehmann Prize to recognise academic excellence in art. In 1864 he was elected a member of the Institut de France
.
He died in Paris in 1882. His brother Rudolf Lehmann was also a well-known portrait artist.
are:
Mural paintings include those in the chapels of the church of St. Merry
, on the ceiling of the Great Hall in the Palais de Justice
, and in the Throne Hall, Luxembourg Palace
. He painted many well-characterized portraits of celebrated contemporaries — Liszt
, Ingres
, Marie d'Agoult
, Chopin, and Edmond About
amongst others. He painted a portrait of himself for the Uffizi Gallery, Florence.
__NOEDITSECTION__
Life
Born Heinrich Salem Lehmann in KielKiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
, Schleswig
Schleswig
Schleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark; the territory has been divided between the two countries since 1920, with Northern Schleswig in Denmark and Southern Schleswig in Germany...
, Germany, he received his first art tuition from his father Leo Lehmann (1782–1859) and from other painters in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. In 1831, at the age of 17, he travelled to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to study art under Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres
Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres was a French Neoclassical painter. Although he considered himself to be a painter of history in the tradition of Nicolas Poussin and Jacques-Louis David, by the end of his life it was Ingres's portraits, both painted and drawn, that were recognized as his greatest...
, becoming one of his most accomplished pupils and a close associate for many years. His first exhibition was at the Salon in 1835 where he won a second-class medal. Thereafter he exhibited regularly at the Salon, winning first-class medals in 1840, 1848 and 1855.
Lehmann lived in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
from 1838–41, where he continued his artistic education with Ingres (who was by then Director of the Académie de France
French Academy in Rome
The French Academy in Rome is an Academy located in the Villa Medici, within the Villa Borghese, on the Pincio in Rome, Italy.-History:...
there), and collaborated with him on some works - including Ingres' painting "Luigi Cherubini and the Muse of Lyric Poetry". In Rome Lehmann befriended Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
and his lover, the author Marie d'Agoult
Marie d'Agoult
Marie Catherine Sophie de Flavigny, Vicomtesse de Flavigny , was a French author, known also by her married name and title, Marie, Comtesse d'Agoult, and by her pen name, Daniel Stern....
, corresponding with them for many years and painting portraits of them.
Hôtel de Ville, Paris
The Hôtel de Ville |City Hall]]) in :Paris, France, is the building housing the City of Paris's administration. Standing on the place de l'Hôtel de Ville in the city's IVe arrondissement, it has been the location of the municipality of Paris since 1357...
, the Church of Ste-Clothilde, the Palais du Luxembourg
Luxembourg Palace
The Luxembourg Palace in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, north of the Luxembourg Garden , is the seat of the French Senate.The formal Luxembourg Garden presents a 25-hectare green parterre of gravel and lawn populated with statues and provided with large basins of water where children sail model...
, the Palais de Justice
Palais de Justice, Paris
The Palais de Justice , located in the Île de la Cité in central Paris, France, is built on the site of the former royal palace of Saint Louis, of which the Sainte Chapelle remains. Thus the justice of the state has been dispensed at this site since medieval times...
, and the Chapel of the Jeunes Aveugles in the Church of Saint-Merri
Saint-Merri
The Church of Saint-Merri is a small church in Paris, located on the busy street Rue Saint Martin, on the Right Bank....
on Rue Saint-Martin. He went on to paint portraits of many well-known and distinguished people of the day including Charles Gounod
Charles Gounod
Charles-François Gounod was a French composer, known for his Ave Maria as well as his operas Faust and Roméo et Juliette.-Biography:...
, Victor Cousin
Victor Cousin
Victor Cousin was a French philosopher. He was a proponent of Scottish Common Sense Realism and had an important influence on French educational policy.-Early life:...
, Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
, Chopin, Stendhal
Stendhal
Marie-Henri Beyle , better known by his pen name Stendhal, was a 19th-century French writer. Known for his acute analysis of his characters' psychology, he is considered one of the earliest and foremost practitioners of realism in his two novels Le Rouge et le Noir and La Chartreuse de Parme...
, the Princess Christina Belgiojoso
Cristina Trivulzio Belgiojoso
Cristina Trivulzio di Belgiojoso was an Italian noblewoman who played a prominent part in Italy's struggle for independence. She is also notable as a writer and journalist.-Life:...
and many others.
In 1846 Lehmann received the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
and in 1847 became a French citizen, opening his studio in that same year. In 1861 he became a teacher at the famous École des Beaux-Arts
École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts is the distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France.The École des Beaux-arts is made up of a vast complex of buildings located at 14 rue Bonaparte, between the quai Malaquais and the rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près,...
and was appointed Professor in 1875. He founded the Lehmann Prize to recognise academic excellence in art. In 1864 he was elected a member of the Institut de France
Institut de France
The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...
.
He died in Paris in 1882. His brother Rudolf Lehmann was also a well-known portrait artist.
Pupils of Lehmann
- Edmond Aman-JeanEdmond Aman-JeanEdmond François Aman-Jean was a French symbolist painter, who co-founded the Salon des Tuileries in 1923....
- Julien DupréJulien DupréJulien Dupré was born in Paris on March 18, 1851 to Jean Dupré and Pauline Bouillié and began his adult life working in a lace shop in anticipation of entering his family’s jewelry business...
- Amédée ForestierAmédée ForestierSir Amédée Forestier was an Anglo-French artist and illustrator who specialised in historical and prehistoric scenes, and landscapes.-Life and work:...
- Alphonse OsbertAlphonse OsbertAlphonse Osbert was a French Symbolist painter.Educated at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, his earliest passion was for the great Spanish masters, particularly Jusepe de Ribera. A shift away from his academic style took place in the late 1880s under the influence of several acquaintances associated with...
- Camille PissarroCamille PissarroCamille Pissarro was a French Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist painter born on the island of St Thomas . His importance resides in his contributions to both Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, as he was the only artist to exhibit in both forms...
- Alexandre SéonAlexandre SéonAlexandre Séon was a French Symbolist artist, illustrator and decorator. Séon studied at the Beaux-Arts of Lyon and Paris, becoming a student of Puvis de Chavannes in 1891, with whom he later collaborated...
- Georges Seurat
Work
Lehmann was a painter of portraits, religious, genre, historical, allegorical and literary works. He drew inspiration from classical mythology, Shakespeare and contemporary writers. Sometimes considered dry and academic, the best of his work can be both pure in line and graceful in form. Among the best of his canvasesPainting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
are:
- Jephtha's Daughter (1836)
- Grief of the Oceanides (1850)
- Prometheus
- Erigone's Dream
- Venus Anadyomene
- Adoration of Magi and Shepherds (1855, Rheims Museum)
- Marriage of Tobias (1866)
Mural paintings include those in the chapels of the church of St. Merry
Saint-Merri
The Church of Saint-Merri is a small church in Paris, located on the busy street Rue Saint Martin, on the Right Bank....
, on the ceiling of the Great Hall in the Palais de Justice
Palais de Justice, Paris
The Palais de Justice , located in the Île de la Cité in central Paris, France, is built on the site of the former royal palace of Saint Louis, of which the Sainte Chapelle remains. Thus the justice of the state has been dispensed at this site since medieval times...
, and in the Throne Hall, Luxembourg Palace
Luxembourg Palace
The Luxembourg Palace in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, north of the Luxembourg Garden , is the seat of the French Senate.The formal Luxembourg Garden presents a 25-hectare green parterre of gravel and lawn populated with statues and provided with large basins of water where children sail model...
. He painted many well-characterized portraits of celebrated contemporaries — Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
, Ingres
Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres was a French Neoclassical painter. Although he considered himself to be a painter of history in the tradition of Nicolas Poussin and Jacques-Louis David, by the end of his life it was Ingres's portraits, both painted and drawn, that were recognized as his greatest...
, Marie d'Agoult
Marie d'Agoult
Marie Catherine Sophie de Flavigny, Vicomtesse de Flavigny , was a French author, known also by her married name and title, Marie, Comtesse d'Agoult, and by her pen name, Daniel Stern....
, Chopin, and Edmond About
Edmond François Valentin About
Edmond François Valentin About was a French novelist, publicist and journalist.-Life:He was born at Dieuze, in the Moselle département in the Lorraine region of France. In 1848 he entered the École Normale, taking second place in the annual competition for admission in which Hippolyte Taine came...
amongst others. He painted a portrait of himself for the Uffizi Gallery, Florence.
External links and references
- Lehmann biography (Albany Fine Art)
- Lehmann biography (La Tribune de l'art)
- Lehmann biography (Stair Sainty Gallery)
- Lehmann gallery (Art Browser)
- Paintings by Lehmann (Art Renewal Center Museum)
- Works by Lehmann (ArtCyclopedia)