Henri Royer

Henri Paul Royer (22 January 1869, Nancy – 31 October 1938, Neuilly-sur-Seine) was a French painter, remembered especially for his genre works from Brittany. A painter of genre, portraitist and landscape artist, he travelled both in America and Europe during his life.

Henri Paul Royer
Henri Royer Painting on the Île de Sein, old postcard
Born(1869-01-22)22 January 1869
Nancy, France
Died31 October 1938(1938-10-31) (aged 69)
Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
OccupationPainter

Biography
Henri Royer:Paysanne au tombeau

Henri Royer was the son of Jules Royer (1845-1900), the creator of one of the most important lithographic printing works established in Nancy in the rue de la Salpêtrière.[1] Raised in the art world from a young age, Royer joined the Nancy School of Fine Arts where he met Émile Friant.[2] He attended the classes of Antoine Vierling and Louis-Théodore Devilly[3] and exhibited his first works at the Salon de Nancy, including Fight between two young typos and Young plasterer. These early successes prompted his parents and teachers to encourage a study trip to Holland with Friant, who then influenced Royer.[4]

After his return in 1888, and after attending the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, in 1890 he continued his studies at the Académie Julian under Jules Joseph Lefebvre and François Flameng. He exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon, specializing in genre paintings and portraits. As a portraitist, he encountered many famous figures from the aristocracy, politics, diplomacy, science and the arts. As a result, his critics described him as one of Ingres' disciples.[5]

Family from Brittany praying in front of the Pont-Croix Church, 47x53cm

In 1896, together with his wife, he arrived in Brittany, where he was to spend long periods for the rest of his life, especially in and around Audierne. Unlike other artists, he was above all interested in the people rather than the scenery. In order to become closer to them, he even learnt to speak Breton. His paintings reveal careful attention to their costumes. A devout Catholic, he also painted religious subjects including solitary figures at prayer.[5]

Royer taught at the Académie Julian[6] and at the École des Beaux-Arts. Among his many students were Georgina and Lucilio de Albuquerque, Fréderic Fiebig, Jacques Majorelle, Thérèse Geraldy and Émile Louis Picault.

When the First World War broke out, he was first incorporated into the 41st Infantry Regiment. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre on 17 November 1915 and the Military Cross on 10 August 1916. Thereafter, he joined the 1st Regiment of Engineering camouflage section on 1 November 1916.[7] · [8] His work was part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1932 Summer Olympics.[9]

He was promoted to officer of the Legion of Honor on 11 August 1931.[8] He died seven years later, on 31 October 1938.

Signature

He signed his artwork Henri Royer.[10]

Students

A teacher at the Académie Julian in Paris and at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Henri Royer had many students in his studio.

The Ex-voto (1898), musée des beaux-arts de Quimper.
The Meadow of legends, musée des beaux-arts de Brest
In front of the sea (1935)

At the Académie Julian

Unlocated workshop

Expositions
  • In 2008, an exhibition was organized in Audierne to pay tribute to Royer.

References
  1. Réunion des Musées Nationaux 1999, p. 264
  2. Conseil des musées nationaux 2002, p. 91
  3. Société lorraine des amis des arts 1903, p. 84
  4. Société lorraine des amis des arts 1903, pp. 84–85
  5. "La collection municipale", Ville d'Audierne. (in French) Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  6. Revue générale de l'Exposition de Nancy, 1909, p. 89 (in French)
  7. Thiery 2007, p. 24
  8. Dossier de Légion d'honneur d'Henri Paul Royer
  9. "Henri Royer". Olympedia. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  10. Henri Paul Royer Signature on Find Art Info
  11. Société des artistes français (1928), p. 82.

Sources and bibliography
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Henri Royer.

Bibliography
  • Le Pays lorrain / Henri Royer; Garcot M., Gaudel H., Thiry J.; Berger-Levrault, Nancy; N°7 de juillet 1939; ISSN 0031-3394
  • Hommage de la Lorraine à la France : à l'occasion du bicentenaire de leur réunion, 1766-1966; Académie de Stanislas; Berger-Levrault, Nancy; 1966; (368 pages); Notice n° : FRBNF31766545
  • Gabriel P. Weisberg, Karal Ann Marling; Montmartre and the Making of Mass Culture; Rutgers University Press, London; 2001; (296 pages); ISBN 0-8135-3008-3
  • Peinture et art nouveau: l'École de Nancy [exposition], Musée des beaux-arts de Nancy, 24 avril-26 juillet 1999. Paris: Réunion des musées nationaux. 1999. ISBN 2-7118-3839-0.
  • Rothenstein, William; Men and Memories, a History of the Arts 1872- 1922, Being the Recollections of William Rothenstein; Tudor Pub. Co., New York; 1924; OLC: 19014724, republished by Kessinger Publishing; 2005; (504 pages); ISBN 141793705X
  • Société des Artistes Français. Salon de 1928: Exposition Annuelle des Beaux-Arts, 1928.
  • Société lorraine des amis des arts (January 1903). "Nos exposants : Henri Royer". Bulletin des sociétés artistiques de l'Est. No. 1. Imprimerie coopérative de l'Est. pp. 84–88.
  • Conseil des musées nationaux (2002). Revue du Louvre: la revue des musées de France. Vol. 52.
  • Thiery, Frédéric (March 2007). "La première veste de camouflage de guerre du monde » est inventée par Louis Guingot". Guerres mondiales et conflits contemporains. No. 227. pp. 7–21.
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