Étienne Dinet
Encyclopedia
Alphonse-Étienne Dinet, also known as Nasr'Eddine Dinet (March 28, 1861 - December 24, 1929, Paris) was a French orientalist
painter.
From 1871, he studied at the Lycée Henry IV, where the future president Alexandre Millerand
was also among the students. Upon graduation in 1881 he enrolled in the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
and entered the studio of Victor Galland. The following year he studied under William Bouguereau and Tony Robert-Fleury
at the Académie Julian
. He also exhibited for the first time at the Salon des artistes français.
Dinet made his first trip to Bou Saâda
in southern Algeria
in 1884, with a team of entomologists
. The following year he made a second trip on a government scholarship, this time to Laghouat
in the M'zab
region. At that time he painted his first two Algerian pictures: les Terrasses de Laghouat and l'Oued M'Sila après l'orage.
He won the silver medal for painting at the Exposition Universelle
in 1889, and in the same year founded the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts along with Meissonier
, Puvis de Chavannes
, Rodin
, Carolus-Duran
and Charles Cottet
.
In 1903 he bought a house in Bou Saâda
and spent three quarters of each year there. He announced his conversion to Islam
in a private letter of 1908, and completed his formal conversion in 1913, upon which he changed his name to Nasr'Eddine Dinet. In 1929 he and his wife undertook the Hajj
to Mecca
. The respect he earned from the natives of Algeria was reflected by the 5,000 who attended his funeral on 12 January 1930 in Bou Saâda. There he was eulogized by the former Governor General of Algeria Maurice Viollette
.
, who also visited northern Africa in the first decade of the 20th century, Dinet's paintings are extremely conservative. They are highly mimetic, indeed ethnographic, in their treatment of their subject.
Dinet's understanding of Arab culture and language
set him apart from other orientalist artists. Surprisingly, he was able to find nude models
in rural Algeria. Before 1900, most of his works could be characterized as "anecdotal genre scenes
". As he became more interested in Islam, he began to paint religious subjects more often. He was active in translating Arabic literature
into French, publishing a translation of a 13th century Arab epic poem by Antarah ibn Shaddad
in 1898.
Orientalism
Orientalism is a term used for the imitation or depiction of aspects of Eastern cultures in the West by writers, designers and artists, as well as having other meanings...
painter.
Biography
Dinet was born the son of a prominent French judge. In 1865 his sister Jeanne, who would be his biographer, was born.From 1871, he studied at the Lycée Henry IV, where the future president Alexandre Millerand
Alexandre Millerand
Alexandre Millerand was a French socialist politician. He was President of France from 23 September 1920 to 11 June 1924 and Prime Minister of France 20 January to 23 September 1920...
was also among the students. Upon graduation in 1881 he enrolled in the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts is the distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France.The École des Beaux-arts is made up of a vast complex of buildings located at 14 rue Bonaparte, between the quai Malaquais and the rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près,...
and entered the studio of Victor Galland. The following year he studied under William Bouguereau and Tony Robert-Fleury
Tony Robert-Fleury
Tony Robert-Fleury was a French painter.He was born just outside Paris, and studied under his father Joseph-Nicolas Robert-Fleury and under Delaroche and Léon Cogniet....
at the Académie Julian
Académie Julian
The Académie Julian was an art school in Paris, France.Rodolphe Julian established the Académie Julian in 1868 at the Passage des Panoramas, as a private studio school for art students. The Académie Julian not only prepared students to the exams at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts, but offered...
. He also exhibited for the first time at the Salon des artistes français.
Dinet made his first trip to Bou Saâda
Bou Saada
Bou Saada is a town and municipality in M'Sila Province, Algeria, situated 245 km south of Algiers. The municipality population was estimated at 134,000 in 2008....
in southern Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
in 1884, with a team of entomologists
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
. The following year he made a second trip on a government scholarship, this time to Laghouat
Laghouat
Laghouat is the capital city of the Laghouat Province, Algeria, 400 km south of the Algerian capital Algiers in the Atlas Mountains. As of 2005, the population of the city was 126,291 inhabitants. Nearby, in Hassi R'Mel, there is the largest natural gas reserve in Africa.The city was founded in...
in the M'zab
M'zab
The M'zab or Mzab, , is a region of the northern Sahara, in the Ghardaïa wilaya, an administrative division similar to a province, of Algeria...
region. At that time he painted his first two Algerian pictures: les Terrasses de Laghouat and l'Oued M'Sila après l'orage.
He won the silver medal for painting at the Exposition Universelle
Exposition Universelle (1889)
The Exposition Universelle of 1889 was a World's Fair held in Paris, France from 6 May to 31 October 1889.It was held during the year of the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, an event traditionally considered as the symbol for the beginning of the French Revolution...
in 1889, and in the same year founded the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts along with Meissonier
Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier
Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier was a French Classicist painter and sculptor famous for his depictions of Napoleon, his armies and military themes. He documented sieges and manoeuvres and was the teacher of Édouard Detaille.-Biography:Ernest Meissonier was born at Lyon...
, Puvis de Chavannes
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes was a French painter, who became the president and co-founder of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts and whose work influenced many other artists.-Life:...
, Rodin
Rodin
- People :* Auguste Rodin , French sculptor, for whom is named:** The Musée Rodin in Paris, France** The Rodin Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA** The Rodin Gallery in Seoul, South Korea** Rodin , a crater on the Moon...
, Carolus-Duran
Carolus-Duran
Charles Auguste Émile Durand, known as Carolus-Duran , was a French painter and art instructor. He is noted for his stylish depictions of members of high society in Third Republic France.-Biography:...
and Charles Cottet
Charles Cottet
Charles Cottet , French painter, was born at Le Puy-en-Velay and died in Paris. A famed post-impressionist, Cottet is known for his dark, evocative painting of rural Brittany and seascapes...
.
In 1903 he bought a house in Bou Saâda
Bou Saada
Bou Saada is a town and municipality in M'Sila Province, Algeria, situated 245 km south of Algiers. The municipality population was estimated at 134,000 in 2008....
and spent three quarters of each year there. He announced his conversion to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in a private letter of 1908, and completed his formal conversion in 1913, upon which he changed his name to Nasr'Eddine Dinet. In 1929 he and his wife undertook the Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
. The respect he earned from the natives of Algeria was reflected by the 5,000 who attended his funeral on 12 January 1930 in Bou Saâda. There he was eulogized by the former Governor General of Algeria Maurice Viollette
Maurice Viollette
Maurice Viollette was a French statesman.He was chief-of-staff for Alexandre Millerand in the Waldeck-Rousseau government in 1898, and was elected as a député for Eure-et-Loir in 1902 and as mayor of Dreux from 1908–1959.He acted as Transport and Supply Minister in 1917, Governor General of...
.
Work
Compared to modernist painters such as Henri MatisseHenri Matisse
Henri Matisse was a French artist, known for his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily as a painter...
, who also visited northern Africa in the first decade of the 20th century, Dinet's paintings are extremely conservative. They are highly mimetic, indeed ethnographic, in their treatment of their subject.
Dinet's understanding of Arab culture and language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
set him apart from other orientalist artists. Surprisingly, he was able to find nude models
Model (art)
Art models are models who pose for photographers, painters, sculptors, and other artists as part of their work of art. Art models who pose in the nude for life drawing are usually called life models...
in rural Algeria. Before 1900, most of his works could be characterized as "anecdotal genre scenes
Genre painting
Genre works, also called genre scenes or genre views, are pictorial representations in any of various media that represent scenes or events from everyday life, such as markets, domestic settings, interiors, parties, inn scenes, and street scenes. Such representations may be realistic, imagined, or...
". As he became more interested in Islam, he began to paint religious subjects more often. He was active in translating Arabic literature
Arabic literature
Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and implies politeness, culture and enrichment....
into French, publishing a translation of a 13th century Arab epic poem by Antarah ibn Shaddad
Antarah ibn Shaddad
'Antarah Ibn Shaddād al-'Absī عنترة بن شداد العبسي was a pre-Islamic Arabian hero and poet famous both for his poetry and his adventurous life. What many consider his best or chief poem is contained in the Mu'allaqat...
in 1898.