|
|
|
Channels:
|
Search for:
|
Author: Scott_Burkett, Contributing Editor
| Grun's Paintings and Dealings with the Salon
Grun was eventually accepted into the Salon de Paris, also known as the Salon de la Societe des Artistes Francais (The Salon of the Society of French Artists). His first accepted Salon painting was Nature Morte in 1885. Other Salon works included Coin de jardin (1894), Retour du marché (1895, which earned him honorable mention), Fontaine de cuivre (1896), Coin d'office (1897), which got a 3rd class Salon medal), and Antiquaire (1903, which earned a second class medal). Grun continued to exhibit in the Salon, eventually becoming a member of the Jury and selection commitee. His later works, including the portrait of Cardinal Baudrillart, portrait of Georges Goyau, Reunion d'Artistes, Banc d'oeuvre, The Trio, l'Annamite, la dame au vieux parchemin and The Letter were widely exhibited in France. His works were exhibited in Argentina and Belgium as well. Many of these works can be seen in our online reference image library. |
| One of his most important works was entitled un Vendredi au Salon des Artistes Francais, or, "A Friday at the Salon of the French Artists". This piece, which now hangs above the staircase at the Musee des Beaux-Arts in Rouen, France, depicted a number of prominent figures. Among the nearly 100 celebrities in the painting, you will find Jules Cheret, Angelo Mariani, Grun and his Wife (Juliette Toutain-Grun), and of course, his mentor and teacher, Antoine Guillemet. |  |
| Another of his more prominent works was Fin de Souper, or, "After Dinner". This work is also referred to as "The Dinner Party", for obvious reasons. It depicts Grun, his wife, and a number of their friends (including Jules Cheret and Antoine Guillemet) engaged in after dinner revelry. Guillemet is sitting on the right hand side of the painting, leaning on his hand. He is facing (and talking to) Grun's wife Juliette Toutain-Grun. You can see Cheret and Grun in the back/middle of the painting, Grun slightly obscured by Cheret. |  |
| The Story of Grun's Bal Tabarin Controversy In 1904, Grun stirred up quite a bit controversy in Paris with his release of his now famous Bal Tabarin poster. The poster depicts a beautiful lady, out out on the town with two gentleman, no doubt all out for a good time at the Bal Tabarin, a local revue. So what's the problem you ask? You will notice in the image to the right that the gentleman standing behind the lady is black. In today's modern society, this would not be a problem, however, apparently some bigots in Parisienne society objected quite adamantly to this. Chaix was forced to re-issue the poster, substituting a white man for the original fellow. |  |
| The Story of How Grun Met Antoine Guillemet, His Mentor
Like many posterists, Grün started painting as a hobby-mostly still lifes and portraits. He studied under Antoine Guillemet, the renowned landscape painter and longtime Jury member of the Salon des Artistes Francais. Grun revered his relationship with Guillemet. He paid hommage to his mentor by painting him in many of his paintings, including Fin de Souper (The Dinner Party) and un Vendredi au Salon Artistes Francais.
Image: Antoine Guillemet, from Grun's 1911 un Vendredi au Salon Artistes Francais |  |
| Quick Jump: | ||||
 |
||
|
||
Copyright © 1998-2009, F+W Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. FA |
||
