Émile Friant
Encyclopedia
Émile Friant was a French
artist. Friant was born in the commune
of Dieuze
, however he was later forced to flee to Nancy. Throughout his lifetime, his paintings were featured at the Salon. Friant died after a fall in Paris
in 1932.
of Dieuze
in 1863. His father was a locksmith, and his mother a dressmaker
. Madame Parisot, the wife of a chemist
, would hire Friant's wife to design custom pieces of clothing. The Parisots treated Friant maternally as they were without children.
Due to the Franco-Prussian War
, Dieuze was no longer under French
control. Parisot had been intensely distressed by this and intended to flee for Nancy, but died before being able to do so. In 1871, Madame Parisot fled with Friant to Nancy, and Friant's biological family followed later.
Friant was to learn Latin
at the lycée as Madame Parisot intended for him to become a chemist. Friends of Friant's father suggested sending him to a municipal school of art. Because of his poor work at the lycée, Friant asked for permission to leave and focus on his art. His father agreed, and Friant was placed under a private tutor that would arrange work so that it left time for painting. Under the guidance of Louis Devilly, director of a school in Nancy and a proponent of realism
, Friant painted still life
and landscapes
.
Friant painted Le petit Friant at the age of 15. It was exhibited in Nancy, and he became a "local celebrity" as a result. The municipal council allowed him to travel to Paris
a year later. There he studied under Alexandre Cabanel
, who directed him to do oil sketch
es of historical works. Friant, now disenchanted by the academic style and Atelier Method
of painting, left for Nancy.
, a friend of Friant, encouraged him to debut two of his works at the Salon: The Prodigal Son and Studio Interior. In 1883, Friant took second place in the Prix de Rome
and presented at the Salon. At his next two Salon presentations, over the following two years, he won third-class and second-class honors respectively. Friant formed a lasting friendship with Ernest and Benoit Coquelin. With the grant he received from the Salon of 1886, he traveled to and studied in the Netherlands
. His painting of the Coquelins' mother reflects the effects of that journey.
in Paris
. He was also promoted to the position of commander in the Legion of Honor. Lastly, Friant was made a member of the Institut de France
. In 1932, Friant fell to his death in Paris.
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...
artist. Friant was born in the commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Dieuze
Dieuze
Dieuze is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-People:Dieuze was the birthplace of:*Charles Hermite, mathematician*Edmond François Valentin About, novelist, publicist and journalist*Émile Friant, painter...
, however he was later forced to flee to Nancy. Throughout his lifetime, his paintings were featured at the Salon. Friant died after a fall in 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...
in 1932.
Early life
Friant was born in the communeCommunes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Dieuze
Dieuze
Dieuze is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-People:Dieuze was the birthplace of:*Charles Hermite, mathematician*Edmond François Valentin About, novelist, publicist and journalist*Émile Friant, painter...
in 1863. His father was a locksmith, and his mother a dressmaker
Dressmaker
A dressmaker is a person who makes custom clothing for women, such as dresses, blouses, and evening gowns. Also called a mantua-maker or a modiste.-Notable dressmakers:*Cristobal Balenciaga*Charles Frederick Worth...
. Madame Parisot, the wife of a chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, would hire Friant's wife to design custom pieces of clothing. The Parisots treated Friant maternally as they were without children.
Due to 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...
, Dieuze was no longer under French
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...
control. Parisot had been intensely distressed by this and intended to flee for Nancy, but died before being able to do so. In 1871, Madame Parisot fled with Friant to Nancy, and Friant's biological family followed later.
Friant was to learn Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
at the lycée as Madame Parisot intended for him to become a chemist. Friends of Friant's father suggested sending him to a municipal school of art. Because of his poor work at the lycée, Friant asked for permission to leave and focus on his art. His father agreed, and Friant was placed under a private tutor that would arrange work so that it left time for painting. Under the guidance of Louis Devilly, director of a school in Nancy and a proponent of realism
Realism (visual arts)
Realism in the visual arts is a style that depicts the actuality of what the eyes can see. The term is used in different senses in art history; it may mean the same as illusionism, the representation of subjects with visual mimesis or verisimilitude, or may mean an emphasis on the actuality of...
, Friant painted still life
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
and landscapes
Landscape art
Landscape art is a term that covers the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, and especially art where the main subject is a wide view, with its elements arranged into a coherent composition. In other works landscape backgrounds for figures can still...
.
Friant painted Le petit Friant at the age of 15. It was exhibited in Nancy, and he became a "local celebrity" as a result. The municipal council allowed him to travel 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...
a year later. There he studied under Alexandre Cabanel
Alexandre Cabanel
Alexandre Cabanel was a French painter.- Biography :Cabanel was born in Montpellier, Hérault. He painted historical, classical and religious subjects in the academic style. He was also well known as a portrait painter...
, who directed him to do oil sketch
Oil sketch
An Oil sketch or oil study is an artwork made primarily in oil paints that is more abbreviated in handling than a fully finished painting. Originally these were created as preparatory studies or modelli, especially so as to gain approval for the design of a larger commissioned painting...
es of historical works. Friant, now disenchanted by the academic style and Atelier Method
Atelier Method
Atelier is the French word for "workshop", and in English is used principally for the workshop of an artist in the fine or decorative arts, where a principal master and a number of assistants, students and apprentices worked together producing pieces that went out in the master's name...
of painting, left for Nancy.
The Salon
In 1882, Aime MorotAimé Morot
Aimé Morot was a French painter.Morot was born in Nancy, where he studied under a drawing master named Thierry. He later attended the atelier of Alexandre Cabanel in the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, but left after only two weeks to continue his studies independently...
, a friend of Friant, encouraged him to debut two of his works at the Salon: The Prodigal Son and Studio Interior. In 1883, Friant took second place in the Prix de Rome
Prix de Rome
The Prix de Rome was a scholarship for arts students, principally of painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was created, initially for painters and sculptors, in 1663 in France during the reign of Louis XIV. It was an annual bursary for promising artists having proved their talents by...
and presented at the Salon. At his next two Salon presentations, over the following two years, he won third-class and second-class honors respectively. Friant formed a lasting friendship with Ernest and Benoit Coquelin. With the grant he received from the Salon of 1886, he traveled to and studied in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. His painting of the Coquelins' mother reflects the effects of that journey.
Later life
In 1923, Friant was appointed a professor of painting at the Ecole des Beaux-ArtsÉcole des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
in 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...
. He was also promoted to the position of commander in the Legion of Honor. Lastly, Friant was made 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...
. In 1932, Friant fell to his death in Paris.