Joseph Gabriel Imbert
Joseph-Gabriel Imbert, also known as Frère Imbert[1][2][3] (1666–1749) was a French painter and Carthusian monk. Among his pupils were Adrien Manglard[2] and Joseph Siffred Duplessis.[4]
![](../I/Joseph_Gabriel_Imbert_(called_Fr%C3%A8re_Imbert)%252C_Fuite_en_Egypte_2Untitled_(8).jpg.webp)
Biography
Imbert was born in Occitania in 1666. He was active in the charterhouse of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, but was originally from Marseille, as in a note on his Fuite en Egypte it is detailed that «[E]t les deux autres représentant la Fuitte en Egipte […] peint[s] par un frère chartreux de ladite maison nommé Imbert de Marseille, ces trois tableaux sont forts haut[s] et remplissent depuis le haut des stales presque jusqu’à la voûte»[1] He was a pupil of French painter and art theorist Charles Le Brun.[4]
He realized several paintings for the Carthusian Monastery of Notre-Dame-du-Val-de-Bénédiction in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, near Gard, Occitania, including a large painting depicting the Flight into Egypt,[1] a copy of Guido Reni's Annunciation,[1][5] an oil on panel depicting the Marquise of Ganges in the Chartreusine costume of Saint Roseline de Villeneuve,[6] and a Compassion de la Vierge (Compassion of the Virgin), now lost. Regarding the lost painting, it was recorded that «Du cotté oposé il y a […] et les deux autres représentant […] et la Compassion de la Sainte Vierge, peint[s] par un frère chartreux de ladite maison nommé Imbert de Marseille, ces trois tableaux sont forts haut[s] et remplissent depuis le haut des stales presque jusqu’à la voûte»[1]
Frère Imbert executed also "smaller paintings, works on easel of more intimate expression, and copies of paintings of the preceding century, such as Nicolas Mignard's Annunciation."[1] Imbert "was not only a talented copyist. He was [also] able to elaborate powerful compositions, such as [his] Flight into Egypt […]"[1]
Imbert became a Carthusian monk, and later opened an art school in either Marseille or Avignon.[7] There, he taught Joseph Siffred Duplessis[4] and Adrien Manglard.[2] The latter reportedly learned figure painting with him.[2]
The figure of Frère Imbert is still relatively shrouded in mystery.[8]
Gallery
- The Marquise de Ganges in the Chartreusine costume of Saint Roseline de Villeneuve, Notre-Dame Church, Gard, Occitanie
- The Annunciation, Notre Dame Church, Gard, Occitanie
- Flight into Egypt, Chartreuse Notre-Dame-du-Val-de-Bénédiction, Villeneuve-lès-Avignon
References
- "Chartreuse de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon (Gard) Tableau rassemblant les éléments de mobilier et de décor de l'église conventuelle, associés à leurs références documentaires" (PDF). gamsau cnrs. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- Michel, Olivier (2003). "Manglard, Adrien". Oxford Art Online. Oxford Art Online. doi:10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.T053792. ISBN 978-1-884446-05-4. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- "Imbert Joseph Gabriel, frère (peintre)". Ministère de la Culture. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- Bajou, Thierry (2003). "Duplessis, Joseph-Siffred". Oxford Art Online. Oxford Art Online. doi:10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.T024079. ISBN 978-1-884446-05-4. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- Base Palissy: L'Annonciation, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
- Base Palissy: La Marquise de Ganges dans le costume de chartreusine de sainte Roseline de Villeneuve, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
- Maddalo 1982, p. 31.
- Maddalo 1982, p. 32.
Bibliography
- Michel, Olivier (1981). "Adrien Manglard, peintre et collectionneur (1695-1760)". Mélanges de l'École Française de Rome. Moyen-Âge, Temps Modernes. Mélanges de l'École française de Rome. 93 (2): 823–926. doi:10.3406/mefr.1981.2626.
- Maddalo, Silvia (1982). Adrien Manglard (1695-1760). Multigrafica; University of Virginia.