Edouard VuillardFrench, 1868–1940André Bénac
May one see it?
Not receiving at present
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the painting
Vuillard belonged to the artistic movement called The Nabis, the Hebrew term for prophet. The Nabis banded together in the late 19th century to create a new artistic language based upon the expressive potential of decorative color and stylized forms. Vuillard's success as part of this group encouraged wealthy patrons to seek his services, but for more realistically rendered portraits. The present piece was requested by the Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d'Éléctricité, the Paris company for which the sitter, André Bénac, was president. The commission was made to commemorate Bénac receiving the Grand Croix, the highest award of the Legion of Honor. Vuillard made two versions of the portrait-this one meant for Bénac and another one, now in Zurich, Switzerland, (see photo), to remain the property of the company.
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In each case, the sitter appears in his living room/office, and he holds an identical pose, showing the same warm, friendly smile. However, in the museum's portrait, Vuillard omitted a significant portion of the surrounding room and altered the format from horizontal to vertical. The viewer can focus more easily upon the man represented because the diagonal of the table has been cut closer to the sitter and no longer leads the eye away toward the window. Photo of: Vuillard. André Bénac, 1935-36; distemper on canvas; 51 in. x 61 1/2 in. Fondation Rau pour le Tiers-Monde, Zurich.
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Particulars
- Accession number
- 1981.63
In the catalog
Sources
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Image: The Cleveland Museum of Art — Museum open access
Meanwhile, in the life of Edouard Vuillard
The whole life1930–1935
Between Paris and the Château de Clayes
From 1930 to 1935 he divides his time between Paris and the Château de Clayes, owned by his friend Hessel.
July 1936
First official recognition: the mural “La Comédie”
Vuillard receives no official recognition from the French state until July 1936, when he is commissioned to paint a mural, La Comédie, with his impressions of the history of the Paris theatre world, for the foyer of the new Théâtre national de Chaillot, built for the 1937 International Exposition; in 1937 he paints it together with Bonnard.
August 1936
The City of Paris buys his paintings
A month after his first state commission, the City of Paris buys four of his paintings and a collection of sketches.
1937
Commission for the League of Nations in Geneva
Together with Maurice Denis and Roussel he receives another major commission, a monumental mural for the Palace of the League of Nations in Geneva; his mural is titled “Peace, Protector of the Arts”.
second half of 1938
Trip to Geneva for the installation of the mural
In the second half of 1938 he travels to Geneva to oversee the installation of his mural “Peace, Protector of the Arts” at the League of Nations building.
July 1938
Major retrospective at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs
The Musée des Arts Décoratifs presents a major retrospective of his paintings, five months after his election to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in February 1938. Other accounts date his membership of the Institut de France to 1937.
