Prix Blumenthal

The Prix Blumenthal (or Blumenthal Prize) was a grant or stipend awarded through the philanthropy of Florence Meyer Blumenthal (1875–1930) — and the foundation she created, Fondation franco-américaine Florence Blumenthal (Franco-American Florence Blumenthal Foundation) — to discover young French artists, aid them financially, and in the process draw the United States and France closer together through the arts.[1]

Prix Blumenthal
Awarded for	To aid young French artists financially, and draw the United States and France closer together
Presented by	Fondation franco-américaine Florence Blumenthal
First awarded	1919
Last awarded	1950s?

Winners were designated by seven juries in the fields of the literature, painting, sculpture, decorative arts, structure, engraving and music — to receive a purse of six thousand francs per year, given for two years. The purse increased in 1926 until Blumenthal's death in 1930 to ten thousand francs for two years.

Jurors included philosopher Henri Bergson; novelist Roland Dorgelès; novelist, essayist, diplomat and playwright Jean Giraudoux; writer Anna de Noailles; poet and essayist Paul Valéry; painter Paul Signac,[1] painter and printmaker Édouard Vuillard, sculptor Paul Landowski, painter and sculptor Aristide Maillol,[1] architect Auguste Perret, composer Paul Dukas, composer Maurice Ravel and composer/conductor Guy Ropartz.

Composer Georges Migot served as vice-president and subsequently as president (1931–1935)[2] of the foundation, as well as the archivist of the winners.[2]

Beginning in 1919 the foundation awarded nearly two hundred grants, and on April 11, 1937, the Prix Blumenthal was declared d'utilité publique ("of public service"), giving it a special tax classification.[2] Awards were given through 1954.[1] At the time of the foundation's dissolution in 1973[2] it was under the direction of Georges Huisman, director of the école des Beaux-Arts, along with author André Maurois and novelist Roland Dorgelès.[2]

In 2010 (May 14 – June 5), the Médiathèque of Haguenau hosted an exhibit of the Florence Blumenthal archives.[2]

Florence Meyer Blumenthal

Florence Blumenthal

Main article: Florence Meyer Blumenthal

Florence Meyer Blumenthal had married international financier George Blumenthal in 1898 [1] and in 1919, she organized what was originally called the La Fondation américaine Blumenthal pour la pensée et l’art français (American Foundation for French Art and Thought) — a name suggested by her friend, Paul Valéry, the poet and essayist[2] — and what ultimately became Fondation franco-américaine Florence Blumenthal.

Blumethal's younger brother Eugene Meyer Jr. later become the president and publisher of the Washington Post[1] — and was the father of Katharine Graham, editor of the Washington Post during Watergate.[3] She was also related to Levi Strauss through her sisters.[4]

In 1925, Blumenthal moved to Paris with her husband, later donating large sums to the Children’s Hospital in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Sorbonne in Paris. Blumenthal died in Paris in 1930, at age fifty-five,[1] having won, along with her husband, the French Legion of Honor the previous year.[1]

Impact of the Prix

As an example of the impact of the Prix Blumenthal, textile artist Paule Marrot received the stipend in 1928, which allowed Marrot to open her workshop in Batignolles on rue Truffaut — where she became widely known for furniture textiles.[5] Marrot went on to experience strong popularity and commercial success in the U.S. after World War II, made a strong impact at Renault by pioneering the company's textile and color division, and redefined furnishing fabrics in France. In 1952 Marrot was awarded the French Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honor), (Chevalier) — and her textiles continue under license to diverse companies including Nike, Anthropologie and the handbag maker, Hayden-Harnett.[5][6][7]

Recipients

Partial list, by year of award:

• 1920 Charles Malfray (1887–1940), sculptor
• 1920 Jacques Rivière (1886-1925), writer
• 1921 Georges Migot (1891-1976), composer, painter and carver
• 1921 René Buthaud (1886–1986), painter, engraver, ceramics[8]
• 1922 Roger Désormière (1898–1963), conductor
• 1922 André Fraye, (1922-1963), painter [9]
• 1922 Maurice Genevoix (1890–1980), writer [2]
• 1922 Maurice Guy-Loë (1898-1991), painter [10]
• 1922 Joseph Inguimberty (1896-1971), painter
• 1923 Jean Adnet (1900–1995), painter[11]
• 1923 Paul Charlemagne (1892-1972), painter[12]
• 1924 Maurice Brianchon (1899–1979), painter [13][14]
• 1924 Gérard Cochet (1888–1969), engraver [15]
• 1924 François Desnoyer (1894–1972), painter [15]
• 1924 René Gabriel (1899-1950), decorator
• 1924 Marcel (Antoine) Gimond (1894-1961), sculptor
• 1926 Robert Louis Antral, engraver, lithographer
• 1926 Paul Belmondo (1989-1982), sculptor
• 1926 Paule Marrot (1902–1987), textile artist[16]
• 1926 Robert Siohan (1894-1985), composer and conductor
• 1926 Pierre Traverse (1892-1979), sculptor
• 1926 Maximilien Vox (1894–1974), cartoonist and graphic designer
• 1928 Emile Bouneau (1902–1970), painter [15]
• 1928 Robert Cami (1900-1975), engraver[17]
• 1928 Louis Guilloux (1899–1980), writer
• 1928 Charles-Émile Pinson (1906–1963), engraver [18]
• 1928 Manuel Rosenthal (1904–2003), composer and conductor
• 1928 Alexandre Vialatte (1901–1971), French writer
• 1929 Jacques Denier (1894–1983), painter
• 1930 Marcel Aymé (1902–1967), writer [2]
• 1930 Robert Couturier (1905–2008), sculptor [19]
• 1930 André Jacquemin (1904–1992), painter
• 1930 Paul Pouchol (1904–1963), pottery[20]
• 1930 Maurice-Georges Poncelet (1897–1978), painter
• 1932 Eugène Dabit (1898–1936), author[21]
• 1932 Ferdinand Lot, poet
• 1932 Raymond Martin (1910–1992), sculptor
• 1932 Louis Neillot (1898-1973), painter
• 1932 André Planson (1898-1981), painter [15]
• 1932 Gaston Poulain, art critic
• 1932 Suzanne Tourte (1904–1979), engraver, painter
• 1934 Christian Caillard (1899-1985), fresco painting [15]
• 1934 Pierre-Octave Ferroud (1900-1936), composer [22]
• 1934 Madeleine Lamberet (1908–1999), painter [23]
• 1934 Henri Mahé (1907-1975), decorative painter[24]
• 1934 Jean Oberlé (1900–1961), painter [15]
• 1934 Hubert Yencesse (1900–1987), sculptor [25]
• 1935 André Arbus (1903-1969), cabinet maker[26]
• 1936 Jules Cavaillès (1901–1977), painter [15]
• 1936 Raymond Corbin (1907-2002), sculptor and medallist [27]
• 1936 Maurice Duruflé (1902–1986), composer and organist [28]
• 1936 Germaine Richier (1902–1959), sculptor
• 1936 Gabriel-Sébastien Simonet (1909-1990), sculptor
• 1938 Henri-Georges Adam (1904–1967), as engraver [29]
• 1938 Pierre Capdevielle (1906–1969), conductor
• 1938 Jean René Bazaine (1904-2001), painter[30]
• 1939 Xavier de Langlais (1906-1975), painter, writer [15]
• 1939 Etienne-Henri Martin (1905-1998), real-estate designer
• 1941 Jean Follain (1903–1971), author and poet
• 1946 Jean Carton (1912-1988), painter, sculptor
• 1946 Émile Damais (1906–2003), composer and musicologist [31]
• 1946 Guy Montis (1918-1976), painter[32]
• 1946 Boris Taslitzky, (1911-2005), painter [33]
• 1947 Jean Delpech (1916–1988), painter
• 1948 Jean Amblard (1911–1989), painter
• 1948 Pierre Roulot (1917–2007), decorator
• 1948 Auguste-Jean Gaudin (1914-1992), (as) engraver
• 1950 Bernard Cathelin (1919-2004), painter[34]
• 1950 Serge Nigg (1924–2008), composer [35]
• 1952 André Brasilier (1929–), painter [15]
• 1954 Maurice Legendre (1928–), sculptor
• 1954 Gérard Blanchard (1927-1998), engraver
• 1955 Paul Coupille (1928-), painter
• 1958 Ida Gotkovsky (1933–), French pianist and composer
• 1960 Jean-Claude Bertrand (1928–), painter [15]

Undated:

• André Chamson (1900–1983), archivist and novelist [2]
• Claudius Linossier
• Pierre Legrain

References

1. "Florence Meyer Blumenthal". Jewish Women's Archive, Michele Siegel.
2. "Exposition d'archives de l'Association Florence Blumenthal". la médiathèque de Haguenau.
3. "Paris, France: La Maison Blumenthal" (PDF). casavant.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-27.
4. "Catalogue of the Art Collection George & Florence Blumenthal". RAantiques.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. By today's standards, George and Florence Blumenthal would definitely be considered a power couple. With palatial homes in New York and Paris, and Mediterranean yachting vacations, the Blumenthals lived vibrantly in a vibrant time. In her autobiography, retired Washington Post editor Katharine Graham described her aunt, Florence Blumenthal, as her father's much-loved sister with the perfect figure. Known as Florie to the family, she was known for bringing home massive amounts of clothing from Paris. She was also related to the powerful Levi Strauss family through her older sisters, Rosalie and Elise, each of whom had married a nephew of Strauss'. Eccentric and generous, Mrs. Blumenthal endowed the Franco-American Foundation's Florence Blumenthal Prize, and had a street named for her in Paris.
5. "About Paule Marrot". Hayden Harnett, Haydenharnett.com.
6. "Clayton Marcus chair for Rowe Furniture using Marrot Print". Furniture.about.com. 2013-07-14. Archived from the original on 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2013-10-10.
7. "Nike shoe using Marrot Print". Retrieved 2013-10-10.
8. "Eloge de Bordeaux Trésors d'une collection". Galerie des beaux-arts, Bordeaux. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2010-07-16. BUTHAUD, René (Saintes, 1886 - 1986, Bordeaux) Fils d’un Bordelais, René Buthaud se fixe à Bordeaux dès son plus jeune âge où il est d’abord élève de Paul Quinsac, puis étudie à l’Ecole des Beaux-arts de Paris dans la classe de Gabriel Ferrier. Il reçoit une formation de peintre et de graveur et, est second Prix de Rome de gravure en taille douce en 1914. Démobilisé en 1918 pour des raisons de santé, il commence alors sa carrière de céramiste après en avoir appris les rudiments chez un potier durant la guerre. L’obtention du Prix de Florence Blumenthal, en 1921, lui permet de faire un stage à la maison L’Hospier à Golfe-Juan, où il perfectionne sa connaissance des émaux. Il expose dès 1920 chaque année au Salon des Artistes décorateurs et au Salon d’Automne. Entre 1923 et 1926, il dirige l’usine Primavera, fondée par René Guilleré à Sainte Radegonde, près de Tours. De 1928 à 1964, il présente ses céramiques à la maison Rouard à Paris. La ville de Bordeaux lui fait plusieurs commandes officielles : en 1937, il réalise les vases en mosaïque pour le Palais des sports et les bas-reliefs en plâtre des quatre saisons pour la mairie du Bouscat ; au début des années cinquante, il refait en faïence le grand cadran de l’horloge du Palais de la Bourse ; en 1951, il conçoit deux vitraux pour la maison du Vin et des bas-reliefs pour la façade d’une école. Il est nommé, en 1931, professeur des arts décoratifs à l’école des Beaux-arts de Bordeaux, au sein de laquelle il crée un atelier de céramique en 1955
9. "André FRAYE". Ministère de l'Ecologie. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
10. "La Lettre" (PDF). Institut Mémoires de l’édition contemporaine. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
11. "Jean Adnet". Camu Gallery. Archived from the original on 2010-05-11.
12. "Paul charlemagne "chambre de musique"". Papillongallery.com.
13. "Maurice Brianchon". Rogallery.com.
14. "Maurice Brianchon Biography". Artnet.
15. "School of Paris: the painters and the artistic climate of Paris since 1910". Retrieved 8 February 2015.
16. "D'une nécéssité aux prototypes "109"..." Dauphinomaniac.
17. "Art Deco at the French Embassy: Robert Cami". Ambassade de France, French Embassy of Canada. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22.
18. "l'université de Caen". Retrieved 9 February 2015.
19. "COUTURIER Robert". Galerie Martel Greiner. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
20. "Paul Pouchol, le potier de Saint-Germain-des-Prés1" (PDF). Amis de Sevres, Friends of Sevres.
21. "Eugene Dabit". Editions Sillage.
22. "FERROUD, Pierre-Octave". personenencyclopedie.info. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21.
23. "LAMBERET, Madeleine". Dictionnaire des Militates Anarchistes. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
24. "Henri Mahé (1907-1975) Chronologie". Louisferdinandceline.free.fr.
25. "HUBERT YENCESSE". Galerie Gabrielle Laroche. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
26. "André Leon Arbus". Antique Marks, Antique-Marks.com.
27. "Corbin, Raymond (born 1907), sculptor, medallist". Oxford Index. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
28. "Maurice Duruflé". Brentwood Choirs Festival. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
29. "Obélisque oblique". Art public. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
30. "Jean-René Bazaine". Kunstbus.nl.
31. "Émile Damais". Retrieved 9 February 2015.
32. "Sa vie et son oeuvre : Guy Montis Figure libre de la peinture". Montis.fr.
33. "L'Humanité". 25 October 1986.
34. "Bernard Cathelin, Biography". Cathelin.com.
35. Randel, Don. The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music. p. 637.