Ernest Normand (1857–1923) was an English painter noted for his historical and Biblical scenes as well as
Orientalist works.
Life and career
Ernest Normand was born in London on 30 December 1857. He painted history and
orientalist paintings, and also undertook portraits.
In 1884 he married the painter and writer,
Henrietta Rae
Henrietta Emma Ratcliffe Rae (30 December 1859 – 26 January 1928) was a British painter of the late Victorian era,Arthur Fish''Henrietta Rae (Mrs. Ernest Normand)'' London, Cassell & Co., 1905. who specialised in classical, allegorical and lite ...
(1859–1928). They both painted nude figures in lush settings, and were criticised for an apparent tendency towards an excess of sensuality in some of their paintings.
The Normands were based in London from 1885, where Ernest had his studio and received support from the circle around Lord Leighton. They lived in
Holland Park, an area known as the residence of many other artists of the day. Frequent visitors to their home included
Leighton,
Millais,
Prinsep
Prinsep may mean any of several notable members of the British Prinsep family.
The family descended from John Prinsep, an 18th-century merchant who was the son of Rev. John Prinsep, rector of Saundby, Nottinghamshire, and Bicester, Oxfordshire. J ...
, and
Watts
Watts is plural for ''watt'', the unit of power.
Watts may also refer to:
People
*Watts (surname), list of people with the surname Watts Fictional characters
*Watts, main character in the film '' Some Kind of Wonderful''
*Watts family, six chara ...
. These more senior artists ''adopted'' the Normands, but their criticism was not always welcome. In her memoirs, Henrietta described the overbearing attitudes and conduct of some of the more senior artists.
In 1890, the Normands travelled to Paris to study at the
Académie Julian with
Jules Joseph Lefebvre
Jules Joseph Lefebvre (; 14 March 183624 February 1911) was a French figure painter, educator and theorist.
Early life
Lefebvre was born in Tournan-en-Brie, Seine-et-Marne, on 14 March 1836. He entered the École nationale supérieure des Bea ...
and
Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant
Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant (also known as Benjamin-Constant), born Jean-Joseph Constant (10 June 1845 – 26 May 1902), was a French painter and etcher best known for his Oriental subjects and portraits.
Biography
Benjamin-Constant was bor ...
. In 1893, the Normands moved to
Upper Norwood, into a studio that was custom-built for them by Normand's father. The couple had two children, a son (born in 1886) and a daughter (born in 1893).
Work
He painted history and
orientalist paintings,
[(f]
Orientalistes
/ref> and also undertook portraits. His work was influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites. Normand painted the "King John Granting the Magna Carta" fresco at the Royal Exchange in London (painted 1900, restored 2001).
File:Pygmalion and Galatea (Normand).jpg, ''Pygmalion and Galatea,'' 1886
File:Esther Denouncing Haman.jpg, ''Esther Denouncing Haman,'' 1888
File:Normand, Ernest - Bondage - 1890.jpg, ''Bondage,'' 1890
File:Ernest Normand - Pandora 1899.jpg, ''Pandora,'' 1899
File:Normand, Ernest - Queen Vashti deposed - 1890.jpg, ''Queen Vashti Deposed,'' 1890
Select list of paintings and illustrations
* ''Pygmalion and Galatea,'' 1886
* ''Esther Denouncing Haman,'' 1888
* ''Death of Pharaoh's First Born,'' (illustration), 1905
* ''Queen Vashti Deposed,'' 1890
See also
* List of Orientalist artists
This is an incomplete list of artists who have produced works on Orientalist subjects, drawn from the Islamic world or other parts of Asia. Many artists listed on this page worked in many genres, and Orientalist subjects may not have formed a m ...
* Orientalism
References
External links
British PaintingsNormand Artwork analysis
{{DEFAULTSORT:Normand, Ernest
1857 births
1923 deaths
19th-century English painters
English male painters
20th-century English painters
Académie Julian alumni
Orientalist painters
20th-century English male artists
19th-century English male artists