Architectures italiennes (1898)

Arthur-Joseph Guéniot prints open the sketchbooks of a French sculptor trained in the studio of Gustave Moreau. Guéniot made war memorials and church statues across France, but his drawings show a gentler, more personal world: a young woman playing the violin on the rooftops, monks at a little chapel, studies of cats and birds, family portraits and anatomy. Our collection of fine art prints gathers these drawings and studies.

About Arthur-Joseph Guéniot

Arthur Joseph Guéniot was born in Bournezeau, in the Vendée, on 1 May 1866. He studied first at the École des Beaux-Arts in Clermont-Ferrand and then, as a prize-winning student, at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, in the studios of Gustave Moreau and Jean-André Delorme.

He became a successful sculptor and a member of the Société des Artistes Français, winning medals at the Salon from 1902 to a gold medal in 1927. His works include the statuette Rêverie (1905), bought by the City of Paris and produced by the Sèvres manufactory; the statue of Jehan de Beaumanoir in Dinan (1911); war memorials in Dinan and Aubagne (1922); marble sculptures for Saint-Jean de Montmartre; and a relief of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux in La Rochelle Cathedral (1931).

He was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1929, and died in Vitry-le-François on 16 February 1951. The Musée des Beaux-Arts in Reims holds 282 of his works.

Style and Subjects

Guéniot's drawings are those of a sculptor: firm, careful studies of the body, faces and hands, with anatomy sheets of bones and muscles made to understand how figures stand and move. Alongside them are lively sketches from daily life and imagination.

There is a quiet poetry in many of them, such as the violinist on the rooftops with a white cat, or a monk outside a small chapel in Auvergne. Others record armour, birds and family members, giving a rounded picture of an artist's working life around 1900.

Famous Works

• Young Woman Playing the Violin on the Rooftops, with a White Cat. A dreamy scene of music above the city.
• Portrait of M. Lhuillier, Guéniot's Cousin, Playing the Violin. A family portrait of a musician.
• Little Chapel at Riom in Auvergne, with a Monk (1892). A quiet scene from the region where he first trained.
• The Armour of Francis I (1889). A study of the king's famous suit of armour.
• Moses Carrying the Tablets of the Law. A study for a biblical figure.
• Study of a Wading Bird (1899). A long-legged bird drawn from life.
• Rêverie (1905), Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. His prize-winning statuette, produced in porcelain by Sèvres.

Decorating with Guéniot Prints

Guéniot's drawings have the intimate feel of a sketchbook, which suits a bedroom, study or reading nook. The violinist pieces are a lovely choice for a music room, and his cat studies bring charm to a kitchen or hallway.

The anatomy sheets and armour study suit a studio, library or home office, especially for artists and students. Thin wood or black frames with a cream mat suit the soft paper tones.

FAQ

Who was Arthur-Joseph Guéniot?

Arthur Joseph Guéniot (1866–1951) was a French sculptor from the Vendée, a pupil of Gustave Moreau, known for church statues and war memorials.

Who taught Guéniot?

He trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Clermont-Ferrand and then in Paris, in the studios of Gustave Moreau and Jean-André Delorme.

Where can I see Guéniot's sculpture?

In Dinan (the statue of Jehan de Beaumanoir and the war memorial), Aubagne, Saint-Jean de Montmartre in Paris, La Rochelle Cathedral and Châlons-en-Champagne Cathedral.

Where are his drawings?

The Musée des Beaux-Arts in Reims holds an important collection of 282 of his works.

What honours did Guéniot receive?

Medals at the Salon, including a gold medal in 1927, and the Legion of Honour in 1929.

Related Artists

• Gustave Moreau: his teacher at the École des Beaux-Arts
• Henri Matisse: fellow student in Moreau's studio in the 1890s
• Auguste Rodin: the leading French sculptor of his time