James Pradier
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James Pradier (born Jean-Jacques Pradier, ; 23 May 1790 – 4 June 1852) was a Genevan-born French
sculptor Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...
best known for his work in the neoclassical style.


Life and work

Born in
Geneva , neighboring_municipalities= Carouge, Chêne-Bougeries, Cologny, Lancy, Grand-Saconnex, Pregny-Chambésy, Vernier, Veyrier , website = https://www.geneve.ch/ Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevr ...
(then Republic of Geneva), Pradier was the son of a Protestant family from
Toulouse Toulouse ( , ; oc, Tolosa ) is the prefecture of the French department of Haute-Garonne and of the larger region of Occitania. The city is on the banks of the River Garonne, from the Mediterranean Sea, from the Atlantic Ocean and from Pa ...
. He left for Paris in 1807 to work with his elder brother, Charles-Simon Pradier, an engraver, and also attended the
École des Beaux-Arts École des Beaux-Arts (; ) refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The term is associated with the Beaux-Arts style in architecture and city planning that thrived in France and other countries during the late nineteenth centur ...
beginning in 1808. He won a
Prix de Rome The Prix de Rome () or Grand Prix de Rome was a French scholarship for arts students, initially for painters and sculptors, that was established in 1663 during the reign of Louis XIV of France. Winners were awarded a bursary that allowed them t ...
that enabled him to study in Rome from 1814 to 1818 at the
Villa Medici The Villa Medici () is a Mannerist villa and an architectural complex with a garden contiguous with the larger Borghese gardens, on the Pincian Hill next to Trinità dei Monti in Rome, Italy. The Villa Medici, founded by Ferdinando I de' Medici, ...
. Pradier made his debut at the Salon in 1819 and quickly acquired a reputation as a competent artist. He studied under
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres ( , ; 29 August 1780 – 14 January 1867) was a French Neoclassical painter. Ingres was profoundly influenced by past artistic traditions and aspired to become the guardian of academic orthodoxy against the ...
in Paris. In 1827 he became a member of the ''
Académie des beaux-arts An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, ...
'' and a professor at the École des Beaux-Arts Unlike many of his contemporaries, Pradier oversaw the finish of his sculptures himself. He was a friend of the Romantic poets Alfred de Musset,
Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romantic writer and politician. During a literary career that spanned more than sixty years, he wrote in a variety of genres and forms. He is considered to be one of the great ...
,
Théophile Gautier Pierre Jules Théophile Gautier ( , ; 30 August 1811 – 23 October 1872) was a French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, and art and literary critic. While an ardent defender of Romanticism, Gautier's work is difficult to classify and rema ...
, and the young Gustave Flaubert. His workshop was a meeting place for artists, presided over by his mistress,
Juliette Drouet Juliette Drouet, born Julienne Josephine Gauvain (10 April 1806 – 11 May 1883), was a French actress. She abandoned her career on the stage after becoming the mistress of Victor Hugo, to whom she acted as a secretary and travelling companion. ...
, who became Victor Hugo's mistress in 1833. After the liaison with Drouet ended, Pradier married Louise d'Arcet (1814-1885), daughter of the French chemist Jean-Pierre-Joseph d'Arcet, in 1833. They separated in 1845, after Pradier had become aware of her infidelities. They had three children: Charlotte (born 27 July 1834), John (b. 21 May 1836), and Thérèse (b. 3 July 1839). Due to her numerous lovers and her complicated financial lfe, Louise Pradier was among the inspirations for Flaubert when he wrote ''
Madame Bovary ''Madame Bovary'' (; ), originally published as ''Madame Bovary: Provincial Manners'' ( ), is a novel by French writer Gustave Flaubert, published in 1856. The eponymous character lives beyond her means in order to escape the banalities and emp ...
''.inspiration for Flaubert’s Madame Bovary.
Encyclopaedia Britannica. upMemorial bust of the duc d'Orléans, 1842 (Louvre Museum) ''Victories'' surrounding Napoleon's_tomb,_
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_refused_to_purchase_it,_Count_(later_Prince)_Anatoly_Nikolaievich_Demidov,_1st_Prince_of_San_Donato.html" ;"title="Louis-Philippe_of_France.html" "title="Les_Invalides_.html" ;"title="Les_Invalides.html" ;"title="Napoleon's tomb,
Napoleon's_tomb,_Les_Invalides_">Les_Invalides.html"_;"title="Napoleon's_tomb,_Les_Invalides">Napoleon's_tomb,_Les_Invalides_ The_cool_neoclassical_surface_finish_of_Pradier's_sculptures_is_charged_with_an_eroticism_that_their_mythological_themes_can_barely_disguise._At_the_Salon_of_1834,_Pradier's_''Satyr_and_Bacchante''_created_a_scandalous_sensation._Some_claimed_to_recognize_the_features_of_the_sculptor_and_his_mistress,_Juliette_Drouet.__When_the_prudish_government_of_Louis-Philippe_of_France">Louis-Philippe_ Louis_Philippe_(6_October_1773_–_26_August_1850)_was__King_of_the_French_from_1830_to_1848,_and_the_penultimate__monarch_of_France. As_Louis_Philippe,_Duke_of_Chartres,_he_distinguished_himself_commanding_troops_during_the__Revolutionary_Wa_...
_refused_to_purchase_it,_Count_(later_Prince)_Anatoly_Nikolaievich_Demidov,_1st_Prince_of_San_Donato">Anatoly_Nikolaievich_Demidov_bought_it_and_took_it_to_his_Villa_di_Pratolino.html" "title="Les Invalides">Napoleon's tomb, Les Invalides ">Les_Invalides.html" ;"title="Napoleon's tomb, Les Invalides">Napoleon's tomb, Les Invalides The cool neoclassical surface finish of Pradier's sculptures is charged with an eroticism that their mythological themes can barely disguise. At the Salon of 1834, Pradier's ''Satyr and Bacchante'' created a scandalous sensation. Some claimed to recognize the features of the sculptor and his mistress, Juliette Drouet. When the prudish government of Louis-Philippe of France">Louis-Philippe Louis Philippe (6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850) was King of the French from 1830 to 1848, and the penultimate monarch of France. As Louis Philippe, Duke of Chartres, he distinguished himself commanding troops during the Revolutionary Wa ...
refused to purchase it, Count (later Prince) Anatoly Nikolaievich Demidov, 1st Prince of San Donato">Anatoly Nikolaievich Demidov bought it and took it to his Villa di Pratolino">palazzo A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which ...
 in Florencethough many years later it would finally be on display in France, part of the
Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...
's collection. Other famous sculptures by Pradier are the figures of Fame in the spandrels of the Arc de Triomphe, decorative figures at the Église de la Madeleine, Madeleine, and his twelve ''Victories'' inside the dome of the
Invalides The Hôtel des Invalides ( en, "house of invalids"), commonly called Les Invalides (), is a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France, containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as ...
, all in Paris. For his native Geneva he completed the statue of the Genevan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau (, ; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolu ...
erected in 1838 on the tiny Île Rousseau, where Lac Léman empties to form the
Rhône The Rhône ( , ; wae, Rotten ; frp, Rôno ; oc, Ròse ) is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and southeastern France before discharging into the Mediterranean Sea. At Ar ...
. Aside from large-scale sculptures, Pradier collaborated with
François-Désiré Froment-Meurice François-Désiré Froment-Meurice (31 December 1802 (Paris)— (Paris) 17 February 1855) was a French goldsmith, working in a free and naturalistic manner in the tradition of Mannerist and Baroque masters. One version of his ''Coupe des Vendanges'' ...
, designing jewelry in a 'Renaissance-Romantic' style. James Pradier is buried in the Père-Lachaise cemetery. Much of the contents of his studio were bought after his death by the city museum of Geneva.


Influence

Pradier's importance as an artist in his day is demonstrated by the fact that his portrait is included in
François Joseph Heim François Joseph Heim (16 December 1787 - 29 September 1865) was a French painter. Biography He was born at Belfort. He early distinguished himself at the École Centrale of Strassburg, and in 1803 entered the studio of Vincent at Paris. He was ...
's painting ''
Charles X Charles X (born Charles Philippe, Count of Artois; 9 October 1757 – 6 November 1836) was King of France from 16 September 1824 until 2 August 1830. An uncle of the uncrowned Louis XVII and younger brother to reigning kings Louis XVI and Lou ...
Distributing Prizes to Artists as the Salon of 1824'', now in the
Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...
Museum, Paris. Pradier has been largely forgotten in modern times. In 1846
Gustave Flaubert Gustave Flaubert ( , , ; 12 December 1821 – 8 May 1880) was a French novelist. Highly influential, he has been considered the leading exponent of literary realism in his country. According to the literary theorist Kornelije Kvas, "in Flauber ...
said of him, however: :''This is a great artist, a true Greek, the most antique of all the moderns; a man who is distracted by nothing, not by politics, nor socialism, and who, like a true workman, sleeves rolled up, is there to do his task morning til night with the will to do well and the love of his art.'' An exhibition, ''Statues de chair: sculptures de James Pradier (1790–1852)'' at Geneva's Musée d'Art et d'Histoire (October 1985 – February 1986) and Paris,
Musée du Luxembourg The Musée du Luxembourg () is a museum at 19 rue de Vaugirard in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. Established in 1750, it was initially an art museum located in the east wing of the Luxembourg Palace (the matching west wing housed the Marie de' ...
(February – May 1986), roused some interest in Pradier's career and aesthetic. Pradier's students included: *
Marie-Noémi Cadiot Marie-Noémi Cadiot (; 12 December 1828, Paris – 10 April 1888, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat), also known as Noémi (or Noémie) Constant and her literary pseudonyms Claude Vignon and H. Morel, was a French sculptor, journalist and writer of the 19t ...
, 1828–1888 *
Henri Chapu Henri-Michel-Antoine Chapu (29 September 1833 – 21 April 1891) was a French sculptor in a modified Neoclassical tradition who was known for his use of allegory in his work. Life and career Born in Le Mée-sur-Seine into modest circumstances, ...
, 1833–1891 *
Gustave Crauck Gustave Adolphe Désiré Crauck (or Crauk; 16 July 1827 – 17 November 1905) was a French sculptor with a long distinguished career. He was born and died at Valenciennes, where a special museum for his works was erected in his honor. Educat ...
, 1827–1905 * Antoine Étex, 1808–1888 *
Eugène Guillaume Eugene is a common male given name that comes from the Greek εὐγενής (''eugenēs''), "noble", literally "well-born", from εὖ (''eu''), "well" and γένος (''genos''), "race, stock, kin".Henri Lehmann Henri Lehmann (; 14 April 1814 – 30 March 1882) was a German-born French historical painter and portraitist. Life Born Heinrich Salem Lehmann in Kiel, in the Duchy of Holstein, he received his first art tuition from his father Leo Lehmann ( ...
, 1814–1882 * Eugène-Louis Lequesne, 1815–1887 * Henri Le Secq, 1818–1882 * Jacques-Léonard Maillet, 1823–1894 *
Pierre-Charles Simart Pierre-Charles Simart (born in Troyes on 27 June 1806, died in Paris on 27 May 1857) was a French sculptor. The son of a carpenter from Troyes in Champagne, Simart was the pupil of Antoine Desbœuf, Charles Dupaty, Jean-Pierre Cortot and Ja ...
, 1806–1857


Bibliography

* Fusco, Peter and H. W. Janson, editors, ''The Romantics to Rodin'', Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1980 * Hargrove, June, ''The Statues of Paris: An Open-Air Pantheon – The Histories of Statues of famous Men'', Vendrome Press, New York, 1989 * Mackay, James, ''The Dictionary of Sculptors in Bronze'', Antique Collectors Club, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1977 * ''Nineteenth Century French Sculpture: Monuments for the Middle Class'', J.B. Speed Museum, Louisville Kentucky, 1971


See also

* List of works by James Pradier


References


External links


Index of pages devoted to Pradier's works (French language)
* James Pradier in American public collections at th
French Sculpture Census
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pradier, James 1790 births 1852 deaths Artists from the Republic of Geneva French architectural sculptors French sculptors French male sculptors Prix de Rome for sculpture Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery École des Beaux-Arts faculty Members of the Académie des beaux-arts