Claude-Charles Bourgonnier
French painter (1860–1921)
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Claude-Charles Bourgonnier (French: [klodʃaʁl buʁgɔnje]; 1860 – 15 June 1921) was a French painter and lithographer. He exhibited regularly at the Salon, a prominent art exhibition in Paris, and was a silver medalist at the 1900 Paris Exposition. He was also commissioned to decorate several buildings in France. In his time, Bourgonnier was described as a successful genre painter and praised for his technique and well-researched compositions.
Claude-Charles Bourgonnier | |
|---|---|
1881 portrait medal of Bourgonnier | |
| Born | 1860 Paris, French Empire |
| Died | 15 June 1921 (aged 60–61) |
| Known for | Painting and lithography |
Biography
Bourgonnier was born in Paris in 1860.[1] He was a pupil of the painters Alexandre Cabanel, Alexandre Falguière, and Jean-François Millet.[2][3] He made his debut at the Salon, a prominent Parisian art exhibition, in 1881 with a genre painting entitled La Cigale et La Fourmi (The Cicada and the Ant).[3] He continued exhibiting his paintings at the Salon regularly thereafter.[2] He received an honorable mention at the 1889 Paris Exposition and won medals for his work in 1890 and 1891, as well as a travel grant.[3] In May 1892, Bourgonnier was barred from exhibiting art for a two-year period after tearing up one of his own paintings while it was on display.[4] After his suspension, he won a silver medal at the 1900 Paris Exposition.[3] In 1924, a writer described Bourgonnier as a successful genre painter and praised his technique and well-researched compositions.[3]
In addition to his exhibited paintings, Bourgonnier was also commissioned to adorn the walls and ceilings of several buildings in France. For example, he painted a 54 m2 (580 sq ft) fresco on the ceiling of the Ecole Nationale de la France d'Outre-Mer's library, as well as a smaller 24 m2 (260 sq ft) panel in the same room.[5] In 1892, Bourgonnier won a design competition for the wedding area in the city hall of Montreuil, defeating Henri Matisse and Maurice Denis.[6] Bourgonnier also practiced lithography; some of his subjects include scenes from World War I and studies of women and children.[7] Bourgonnier was married to Berthe Bourgonnier-Claude, who was also a painter.[8] He died on 15 June 1921.[1]