Jean Clair
Encyclopedia
Jean Clair is the nom de plume (pen name) of Gérard Régnier (born October 20, 1940 in Paris
, France). He is an essayist, a polemicist, an art historian, an art conservator, and a member of the French Academy since May, 2008. He was, for many years, the director of the Picasso Museum
in Paris. Among the milestones of his long and productive career is a comprehensive catalog of the works of Balthus
. He was also the director of the Venice Biennale
in 1995.
, before embarking on a course of post-baccalaureat preparation, the so-called khâgne
, at the prestigious lycée Henri-IV in Paris. Then he pursued a degree at the Sorbonne, where he was a student of the art historian, André Chastel
, and the philosopher, Jean Grenier
. Later, he secured a doctorate in art at the Fogg Art Museum
at Harvard University
. He was, for a time, involved with the Union of Communist Students
.
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...
, France). He is an essayist, a polemicist, an art historian, an art conservator, and a member of the French Academy since May, 2008. He was, for many years, the director of the Picasso Museum
Musée Picasso
The Musée Picasso is an art gallery located in the Hôtel Salé in rue de Thorigny, in the Marais district of Paris dedicated to the work of the artist Pablo Picasso .-Building:...
in Paris. Among the milestones of his long and productive career is a comprehensive catalog of the works of Balthus
Balthus
Balthasar Klossowski de Rola , best known as Balthus, was an esteemed but controversial Polish-French modern artist....
. He was also the director of the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
in 1995.
Biography
The son of farmers, Jean Clair was born in the sixth arrondissement of Paris. He was a student at two secondary schools, the lycée Jacques-Decour and the lycée CarnotLycée Carnot
The Lycée Carnot is a public secondary and higher education school located at 145 Boulevard Malesherbes in the 17th arrondissement, Paris, France. A prestigious Parisian high school, it is also known as one the best classe préparatoire aux écoles de commerce...
, before embarking on a course of post-baccalaureat preparation, the so-called khâgne
Khâgne
The literary and humanities CPGE constitutes a type classe prépa, the two-year cycle of classes taken after the baccalauréat...
, at the prestigious lycée Henri-IV in Paris. Then he pursued a degree at the Sorbonne, where he was a student of the art historian, André Chastel
André Chastel
André Chastel was a French art historian, author of an important work on the Italian Renaissance....
, and the philosopher, Jean Grenier
Jean Grenier
Jean Grenier was a French philosopher and writer. He taught for a time in Algiers, where he became a significant influence on the young Albert Camus.-Biography:...
. Later, he secured a doctorate in art at the Fogg Art Museum
Fogg Art Museum
The Fogg Museum, opened to the public in 1896, is the oldest of Harvard University's art museums. The Fogg joins the Busch-Reisinger Museum and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum as part of the Harvard Art Museums....
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He was, for a time, involved with the Union of Communist Students
Union of Communist Students
The Union of Communist Students is a French student political organization, part of the Mouvement Jeunes Communistes de France . It was originally founded in 1939 but dissolved after World War II. The UEC was re-created in 1956, along with the MJCF. It is independent from the French Communist...
.