Youssef Saadallah Howayek (; also Yusuf Huwayyik, Hoyek, Hoayek, Hawayek) (1883–1962) was a painter, sculptor and writer from Helta, in modern-day

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

Career

Youssef Howayek's father, Saadallah Howayek, was a Councillor elected into the Ottoman Mutasarref's (Governor) Administrative Council. His grandfather was the village priest and his uncle was the Patriarch Howayek. He first travelled to

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

and studied the various forms of art. His first passion was painting. Focusing on the cultural shock observed by a young Lebanese mountain dweller in contact with a major European city like Rome. He later moved to

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

to join

Khalil Gibran Gibran Khalil Gibran (January 6, 1883 – April 10, 1931), usually referred to in English as Kahlil Gibran, was a Lebanese-American writer, poet and visual artist; he was also considered a philosopher, although he himself rejected the title. ...

who had come from the other side of the Atlantic. Gibran and Howayek had known each other from

, and became closer friends in Paris being from the same part of the world and the same age. They also had the same passion for painting and sculpture, studying art with

Auguste Rodin François Auguste René Rodin (; ; 12 November 184017 November 1917) was a French sculptor generally considered the founder of modern sculpture. He was schooled traditionally and took a craftsman-like approach to his work. Rodin possessed a u ...

for two years (1909 and 1910).

Ameen Rihani Ameen Rihani (Amīn Fāris Anṭūn ar-Rīḥānī; / ALA-LC: ''Amīn ar-Rīḥānī''; November 24, 1876 – September 13, 1940) was a Lebanese-American writer, intellectual and political activist. He was also a major figure in the ''mah ...

joined them in Paris for a short while. Also in Paris he met

Isadora Duncan Angela Isadora Duncan (May 26, 1877, or May 27, 1878 – September 14, 1927) was an American-born dancer and choreographer, who was a pioneer of modern contemporary dance and performed to great acclaim throughout Europe and the United States. Bor ...

who bought two paintings from him for 500 French francs. In Paris, he is known to have socialised at Le Dome Cafe in

Montparnasse Montparnasse () is an area in the south of Paris, France, on the left bank of the river Seine, centred at the crossroads of the Boulevard du Montparnasse and the Rue de Rennes, between the Rue de Rennes and boulevard Raspail. It is split betwee ...

. He writes in his memoirs that his favourite book was "Histoire des origines du Christianisme", by

Ernest Renan Joseph Ernest Renan (; ; 27 February 18232 October 1892) was a French Orientalist and Semitic scholar, writing on Semitic languages and civilizations, historian of religion, philologist, philosopher, biblical scholar, and critic. He wrote wo ...

. Youssef Howayek is known to have started translating Dante's

The Divine Comedy The ''Divine Comedy'' (, ) is an Italian narrative poem by Dante Alighieri, begun and completed around 1321, shortly before the author's death. It is widely considered the pre-eminent work in Italian literature and one of the greatest wor ...

to Arabic. It is not known if he completed it.

Writings

“Gibran Khalil Gibran in Paris” Memories of Youssef Al Howayek: FMA, Paris 1995. Translated to French by Edvick Shayboub. Translated to English by Matti Moosa. Yusuf Huwayyik : Gibran in Paris (1976 Popular Library, NY)

Paintings

He painted the "Our Lady of Seven Sorrows" and "Christ in the Garden of Olives" and donated them to the

Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul The Company of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul (; abbreviated DC), commonly called the Daughters of Charity or Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, is a society of apostolic life for women within the Catholic Church. ...

, Paris.

Sculptures

* Sculpture of the Patriarch Elias Howayek * Sculpture of

Youssef Bey Karam Youssef Bey Karam (; 15 May 18237 April 1889) was a Lebanese Maronite notable for fighting in the 1860 civil conflict and leading a rebellion in 1866–1867 against Ottoman rule in Mount Lebanon. His proclamations have been interpreted as ...

* Sculpture of Daoud Corm, the painter * Sculpture of the Vierge de Boulogne in 1938. * The first sculpture for Martyrs Square in Beirut (in 1916 the square was named Martyrs Square in tribute to the Lebanese nationalists executed by the Ottomans. The first Martyrs' Monument is of two women, a Muslim and a Christian. It is now exhibited in Sursok Museum garden.) "''The soul is a heavenly flower that cannot live in the shade, but thorns can live everywhere.''" This is from a letter to Youssef Howayek from Gibran in 1911. From Kahlil Gibrarn: A Self-Portrait. (FIUL, Citadel Press, 1959), p. 26. FLOWERS; MAN; SHADE; SOULS; THORNS 19870300

External links

* http://www.opuslibani.org.lb/liban/Dos003.htm * http://www.libanvision.com/batroun.htm * https://www.onefineart.com/artists/sculptors/Youssef-El-Howayek * http://www.rdl.com.lb/2000/3742/art1.html * http://www.rdl.com.lb/1999/3702/art1.html * https://www.kahlilgibran.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Howayek, Youssef Lebanese Maronites Lebanese writers 1883 births 1962 deaths Lebanese sculptors 20th-century Lebanese painters 20th-century Lebanese sculptors