Paul Alexandre Protais
Encyclopedia
Paul Alexandre Protais was a French artist of historical scenes, especially military and battle paintings.
Born in Paris, he later became a student of desmoulins (1788–1856). During the Crimean War
, he traveled to the front and was attached to General Bosquet
's staff where he compiled a portfolio of sketches of soldiers and scenes. He observed the Battle of Inkerman
and made sketches which he used for a large painting showing the second charge of General Bosquet
's division. Protais also was wounded during the campaign. Other war-inspired paintings from this campaign included Attacque de mamelon vert depicting a scene of the action against Sevastopol
when Colonel Brancion of the 50th Regiment was killed, and a scene showing French and British troops off-duty playing ninepins. Some of the artist's Crimean sketches were also published in Illustration Journal Universal in 1855.
The artist debuted at the Paris Salon
in 1857. During the campaign in Italy in 1859, he was attached to the staff of General Ladmirault, and was with the same general in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War
. He witnessed the Siege of Metz
and its capitulation. He painted numerous scenes depicting the war
including La Séparation (1872) and Auot, 1870 (1877), and also painted a series of three pictures commissioned by the Empress Eugenie relating to the death of the Prince Imperial in the Zulu War. He died in Paris in 1890.
Born in Paris, he later became a student of desmoulins (1788–1856). During the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
, he traveled to the front and was attached to General Bosquet
Pierre Bosquet
Pierre François Joseph Bosquet was a French Army general. He served during the conquest of Algeria and the Crimean War; returning from Crimea he was made Marshal of France and senator.-Biography:...
's staff where he compiled a portfolio of sketches of soldiers and scenes. He observed the Battle of Inkerman
Battle of Inkerman
The Battle of Inkerman was fought during the Crimean War on November 5, 1854 between the allied armies of Britain and France against the Imperial Russian Army. The battle broke the will of the Russian Army to defeat the allies in the field, and was followed by the Siege of Sevastopol...
and made sketches which he used for a large painting showing the second charge of General Bosquet
Pierre Bosquet
Pierre François Joseph Bosquet was a French Army general. He served during the conquest of Algeria and the Crimean War; returning from Crimea he was made Marshal of France and senator.-Biography:...
's division. Protais also was wounded during the campaign. Other war-inspired paintings from this campaign included Attacque de mamelon vert depicting a scene of the action against Sevastopol
Sevastopol
Sevastopol is a city on rights of administrative division of Ukraine, located on the Black Sea coast of the Crimea peninsula. It has a population of 342,451 . Sevastopol is the second largest port in Ukraine, after the Port of Odessa....
when Colonel Brancion of the 50th Regiment was killed, and a scene showing French and British troops off-duty playing ninepins. Some of the artist's Crimean sketches were also published in Illustration Journal Universal in 1855.
The artist debuted at the Paris Salon
Paris Salon
The Salon , or rarely Paris Salon , beginning in 1725 was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Between 1748–1890 it was the greatest annual or biannual art event in the Western world...
in 1857. During the campaign in Italy in 1859, he was attached to the staff of General Ladmirault, and was with the same general in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
. He witnessed the Siege of Metz
Siege of Metz
The Siege of Metz lasting from 19 August – 27 October 1870 was fought during the Franco-Prussian War and ended in a decisive Prussian victory.-History:...
and its capitulation. He painted numerous scenes depicting the war
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
including La Séparation (1872) and Auot, 1870 (1877), and also painted a series of three pictures commissioned by the Empress Eugenie relating to the death of the Prince Imperial in the Zulu War. He died in Paris in 1890.
Further reading
- Robichon, François (1998). L'armée française vue par les peintures, 1870-1914. Paris: Editions Herscher: Ministère de la Defénse, 1998.