Lot #101 - Jean Benner, 1836-1906 (France/Italy)

Jean Benner, 1836-1906 (France/Italy)

Estimate: 6 000 - 12 000 £

Auction ended

Lot Description

Jean Benner (1836-1906). Capri, late 19th century. Oil on canvas, size 101 x 83 cm (39 3/4 x 32 2/3 inches), frame dimensions 127 x 107 cm (50 x 42 1/4 inches). Signed lower left. Provenance: Sotheby's Auction February 9, 1999. Lot 228. Printed catalog attached to the lot. (Biography: Jean Benner followed a classically oriented artistic course that began with study at the École des Beaux-Arts under Isidore Pils and Jean-Jacque Henner, culminating in a lifelong fascination with Italy and the island of Capri. He was born on March 28, 1836 in Mulhouse, in the Alsace region of eastern France. Jean began his artistic training with his father, also named Jean Benner, an artist of Swiss origin who was influenced by the Dutch masters and who worked most exclusively with drawings and paintings of flowers. After his beginning training under his father, Jean studied for a short time with Jean Eck. Some time later, Benner sought a more rigid, academic training and thus enrolled in the École des Beaux-Arts studios of Isidore Pils and Jean-Jacque Henner, two artists who had gained prominence in the Parisian art world. Pils was also a Prix de Rome recipient and spent 1839-1844 in Italy, perhaps providing inspiration to Benner for his future voyage. During the Second Empire Pils became a favorite of important members of the Second Empire, ties that undoubtedly carried over to artists who studied with him. Benner began his public career at the Salon in 1859 where he exhibited Fleurs (Flowers). His early work shows Benner’s interest in still-lifes and portraits, but he should be mostly remembered for his views of Italy, especially that of the island Capri. His first composition based on an Italian scene was a work entitled Maison à Ana (House at Ana) for the Salon of 1867. Presumably between 1867 and 1868 Benner set up residence in Capri, though still maintaining lodging with his brother, Emmanuel, in Paris. In 1869 he had returned to Paris and exhibited again at the Salon but from 1870 to 1877 he divided his time between Capri and Paris. In 1873 his son, Emmanuel-Michel-Many was born in Capri and later became a young prodigy at the École des Beaux-Arts, winning the second Prix de Rome which allowed him to return to Italy. His official recompenses included a second-class medal at the Salon of 1872 (Après une Tempête, à Capri – After a storm, in Capri), and a bronze medal at both the 1889 and 1900 Exposition Universelle. He was named a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 1894 and also became a member of the Société des Artistes Français.)