Rene Xavier Prinet Paintings

Biography

Rene Prinet was born on the 31st December 1861 in Vitry-le-François and died on the 1st February 1946 in Bourbonne-les-Bains.

He was a painter, illustrator and designer of figurative, portrait, interiors with figures, genre scenes and landscapes.

René Prinet studied under Gérome, Courtois and Dagnan-Bouveret and, with Albert Besnard, Aman-Jean and Bourdelle, created the Salon des Tuileries in Paris. He taught many students at the Académie Libre he ran in Montparnasse, then at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts where he was in charge of the women’s studio. He was noted for his interiors and portraits, including the Saglio Family. He was also a history and religious painter, leaving an Adoration of the Magi in the church of St-Ferieux in Besançon. Also by him are Small Quadrille in the Opéra library, Four Seasons at the Palais of the Légion d’Honneur and decorations at the Musée d’Art Moderne. He illustrated Balzac, Pierre Loti and Anatole France, and wrote Introduction to Painting ( Initiation à la peinture), but failed to complete his in-depth study of Painters’ Writings ( Écrits de peintres). His wit and verve earned him a special place in Parisian society.

He was a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts and obtained many artistic distinctions, and was Officier and Grand-Croix of the Légion d’Honneur. He exhibited from 1885 at the Salon des Artistes Français, from 1890 at the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, and then at the Salon des Tuileries. A retrospective of his work was held in 1986 at the Musée Bourdelle in Paris.

In 1891, he received a commission from the government to create decorations in the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur and he submitted a design for “The Four Seasons”, which was approved. That same year, he began exhibiting at the Durand-Ruel gallery. One of his best known works, The Kreutzer Sonata (inspired by the story by Tolstoy), was shown in Stuttgart and was purchased by Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria. He was named a Knight in the Legion of Honor in 1900.

He also studied at the Académie Julian. At this time, he became associated with a group of young artists known as the Bande Noire (Black Stripe), which included Lucien Simon, André Dauchez, Émile-René Ménard and Charles Cottet. Later, he was named a Professor at the École Nationale, where he created and directed their first workshop for female artists.

Museum and Gallery Holdings

Bordeaux: The Rise
Caen: The Balcony
Douai: The Chanel Coast
Gray: The Dance Class
Helsinki: The Fireside
Luxeuil-les-Bains (Mus. de la Tour des Échevins): Several Landscapes
Paris (former Mus. du Luxembourg): The Saglio Family; Assisi; The Pupil; The Bath
Paris (Mus. d’Orsay): Cabourg Beach
Vesoul: The Refectory