Thomas Henry (patron of the arts)
Encyclopedia
Bon-Thomas Henry, born in 1766, Cherbourg, France
, where he died in 1836, was a French painter and patron of the arts.
Henry began life as a merchant, travelling to Haiti
until the revolution
there. He returned to France and studied painting and particularly restoration with Jean-Baptiste Regnault
. He augmented his skill in restoration with expertise learned during travels to Italy
, Belgium
, and England
. This led to his gaining a position as an expert commisionner with the Royal Museums.
This position facilated his amassing of a significant personal collection of art. When he felt death approaching he decided to "ignite the flame of art" in his native town by donating his collection and establishign a museum. On the 29 July 1835 the town of Cherbourg inaugurated the Musée Thomas-Henry, with Henry's collection of 163 paintings valued at 120,000 francs.
Today the collection forms the basis of the Musée des beaux-arts Thomas Henry
, which has the third most important collection of paintings in Normandy
, comprising over 300 paintings, dating principally from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries. The museum is located in Cherbourg-Octeville
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where he died in 1836, was a French painter and patron of the arts.
Henry began life as a merchant, travelling to Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
until the revolution
Haïtian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution was a period of conflict in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, which culminated in the elimination of slavery there and the founding of the Haitian republic...
there. He returned to France and studied painting and particularly restoration with Jean-Baptiste Regnault
Jean-Baptiste Regnault
Jean-Baptiste Regnault was a French painter.Regnault was born in Paris, and began life at sea in a merchant vessel. At the age of fifteen his talent attracted attention, and he was sent to Italy by M. de Monval under the care of Bardin...
. He augmented his skill in restoration with expertise learned during travels to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. This led to his gaining a position as an expert commisionner with the Royal Museums.
This position facilated his amassing of a significant personal collection of art. When he felt death approaching he decided to "ignite the flame of art" in his native town by donating his collection and establishign a museum. On the 29 July 1835 the town of Cherbourg inaugurated the Musée Thomas-Henry, with Henry's collection of 163 paintings valued at 120,000 francs.
Today the collection forms the basis of the Musée des beaux-arts Thomas Henry
Musée Thomas-Henry
The Musée des beaux-arts Thomas Henry is a museum at Cherbourg-Octeville with around 300 artworks, mainly paintings from the 15th to 19th centuries...
, which has the third most important collection of paintings in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, comprising over 300 paintings, dating principally from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries. The museum is located in Cherbourg-Octeville
Cherbourg-Octeville
-Main sights:* La Glacerie has a race track.* The Cité de la Mer is a large museum devoted to scientific and historical aspects of maritime subjects.* Cherbourg Basilica* Jardin botanique de la Roche Fauconnière, a private botanical garden.* Le Trident theatre...
.