Sosthène Weis
Encyclopedia
Sosthène Weis was a prolific Luxembourg
artist who painted over 5,000 watercolors, mostly of Luxembourg
and its surroundings. He also worked as an architect, designing some of Luxembourg's most imposing buildings.
near Ettelbruck
on 29 January 1872, he was the son of François Weis, a tanner and sawyer. After completing high school at the Athénée
in Luxembourg City
where Michel Engels
first instroduced him to graphic art,
Weis studied civil engineering from 1891 at the Polytechnic in Aachen
and then at the technical university in Munich
.
. After returning to Luxembourg, in 1902 he married Marie Pütz with whom he would have three children. The same year, the government charged him to conduct a study in connection with the Maison de Santé in Ettelbruck. In 1904, he designed the Benedictine Convent in Peppange
. In 1905, he succeeded Prosper Biwer as government architect and in 1917, he became chief architect for the ARBED
steel company. There, together with René Théry from Brussels, he supervised the construction of the new company headquarters in Luxembourg City as well as housing for the employees and workers. Among his most important works are Luxembourg's post-office building, the Limpertsberg
Lycée technique des arts et métiers, extensions to the spa facilities at Mondorf-les-Bains
and, of course, the ARBED building.
. He became passionately fond of watercolour painting, taking his brush and paints wherever he went. In Luxembourg City, he would often go down to the Pétrusse
or the Alzette
valleys, or out into the suburbs to find interesting scenes to paint. He often returned to paint the same spot when the light had changed, sometimes years later. His paintings are therefore of considerable documentary value. While most of his pictures are of the City of Luxembourg and its surroundings, he also ventured out across the whole country, painting scenes from the Moselle, the mining towns to the south and the mountains to the north. He also painted scenes in the countries surrounding Luxembourg as well as during his travels to Turkey
, Tunisia
, Greece
and Yougoslavia.
His earlier paintings, up to 1900, show the influence of his architectural interests, as buildings are depicted with accurate but rather boring precision. Thereafter, he own romantic post-impressionist style begins to emerge, especially in his work from 1915 to 1945. His warm colours predominate with an abundance of violets, blues and orchres. Weis mastered the art of capturing the moment, poetically reproducing the misty light of the early morning, the heat of noon or the haze gathering in the valleys at sunset. Little by little reality gave way to less precise, more suggestive images as Weis concentrated on the essentials. He would rapidly fill out the main lines of his scenes, interpreting them more and more freely until finally his pictures revealed a world of dreams and fantasy.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
artist who painted over 5,000 watercolors, mostly of Luxembourg
Luxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
and its surroundings. He also worked as an architect, designing some of Luxembourg's most imposing buildings.
Early life
Born in NiedermertzigMertzig
Mertzig is a commune and town in central Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Diekirch, which is part of the district of Diekirch., the town of Mertzig, which lies in the centre of the commune, has a population of 1,439....
near Ettelbruck
Ettelbruck
Ettelbruck is a commune with city status in central Luxembourg, with a population of approximately 7,500. As of 2005, the town of Ettelbruck itself, which lies in the east of the commune, has a population of 6,191. The town of Warken and Grentzingen are also within the commune...
on 29 January 1872, he was the son of François Weis, a tanner and sawyer. After completing high school at the Athénée
Athénée de Luxembourg
The Athénée de Luxembourg , is a high school in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It's commonly called Stater Kolléisch or De Kolléisch, and is the nation's oldest high school.-Brief history:...
in Luxembourg City
Luxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
where Michel Engels
Michel Engels
Michel Engels was a Luxembourg illustrator, painter and art teacher who is remembered principally for his sketches of the fortifications of Luxembourg City and for cofounding the Cercle artistique de Luxembourg.-Early life:...
first instroduced him to graphic art,
Weis studied civil engineering from 1891 at the Polytechnic in Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
and then at the technical university in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
The architect
After his studies, he first worked for a few years for the renowned Munich architect Hans GrässelHans Grässel
Hans Grässel was a German architect. Grässel studied and performed almost his entire career in Munich, and as the council architect of the city he created a series of cemeteries of which Munich Waldfriedhof , opened in 1907, is well-known for being the first woodland cemetery...
. After returning to Luxembourg, in 1902 he married Marie Pütz with whom he would have three children. The same year, the government charged him to conduct a study in connection with the Maison de Santé in Ettelbruck. In 1904, he designed the Benedictine Convent in Peppange
Peppange
Peppange is a small town in the commune of Roeser, in southern Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 570....
. In 1905, he succeeded Prosper Biwer as government architect and in 1917, he became chief architect for the ARBED
Arbed
ARBED was a major Luxembourg-based steel and iron producing company. Created in 1911 after the merger of three steel producing companies, ARBED was a major actor in the economic history of the Grand-Duchy until it merged in 2002 with two other European steel companies to create Arcelor.- Origins ...
steel company. There, together with René Théry from Brussels, he supervised the construction of the new company headquarters in Luxembourg City as well as housing for the employees and workers. Among his most important works are Luxembourg's post-office building, the Limpertsberg
Limpertsberg
Limpertsberg is a quarter in north-western Luxembourg City, in the centre of Luxembourg.In the south, on the border with the main city is the Glacis, a large open air parking lot which hosts the annual Schueberfouer fair, the largest fair in the country...
Lycée technique des arts et métiers, extensions to the spa facilities at Mondorf-les-Bains
Mondorf-les-Bains
Mondorf-les-Bains is a commune and town in south-eastern Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Remich, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher. Mondorf-les-Bains is a spa town , and has the only casino in Luxembourg....
and, of course, the ARBED building.
The painter
While Weis was a successful architect, he is now remembered first and foremost for his paintings. Even as a child, he decorated his letters with floral designs. When he was abroad, he followed art courses and studied watercolour painters, especially William TurnerWilliam Turner (artist)
William Turner was an English painter who specialised in watercolour landscapes. He was a contemporary of the more famous artist J. M. W. Turner and his style was not dissimilar. He is often known as William Turner of Oxford or just Turner of Oxford to distinguish him from his better known namesake...
. He became passionately fond of watercolour painting, taking his brush and paints wherever he went. In Luxembourg City, he would often go down to the Pétrusse
Pétrusse
The Pétrusse is a river flowing through Luxembourg, joining the Alzette at Luxembourg City. It flows through the town of Hollerich....
or the Alzette
Alzette
The Alzette is a river with a length of 73 kilometers in France and Luxembourg. It is a right tributary of the Sauer.It rises in Thil near the town Villerupt in the Meurthe-et-Moselle département, France. It crosses the border with Luxembourg after a few kilometres. In Lameschmillen it is joined...
valleys, or out into the suburbs to find interesting scenes to paint. He often returned to paint the same spot when the light had changed, sometimes years later. His paintings are therefore of considerable documentary value. While most of his pictures are of the City of Luxembourg and its surroundings, he also ventured out across the whole country, painting scenes from the Moselle, the mining towns to the south and the mountains to the north. He also painted scenes in the countries surrounding Luxembourg as well as during his travels to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Yougoslavia.
His earlier paintings, up to 1900, show the influence of his architectural interests, as buildings are depicted with accurate but rather boring precision. Thereafter, he own romantic post-impressionist style begins to emerge, especially in his work from 1915 to 1945. His warm colours predominate with an abundance of violets, blues and orchres. Weis mastered the art of capturing the moment, poetically reproducing the misty light of the early morning, the heat of noon or the haze gathering in the valleys at sunset. Little by little reality gave way to less precise, more suggestive images as Weis concentrated on the essentials. He would rapidly fill out the main lines of his scenes, interpreting them more and more freely until finally his pictures revealed a world of dreams and fantasy.