Édouard Houssin
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Édouard Charles Marie Houssin (13 September 1847 - 15 May 1919) was a French sculptor.


Life

Édouard Charles Marie Houssin was born in
Douai Douai ( , , ; ; ; formerly spelled Douay or Doway in English) is a city in the Nord (French department), Nord département in northern France. It is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the department. Located on the river Scarpe (rive ...
on 13 September 1847. In 1856 he joined the Academic Schools of Douai, and there received several awards. In 1864 he moved to Paris and joined the private studios of Henri Lemaire of Valenciennes and
François Jouffroy François Jouffroy (; 1 February 1806 – 25 June 1882) was a French sculptor. Biography Jouffroy was born in Dijon, France, the son of a baker, and attended the local drawing school before being admitted to the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in ...
of Dijon. In 1866 he was admitted to the sculpture section of the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In 1868 Houssin displayed his first bust to the Society of Friends of the Arts of Douai. From 1871 to 1877 he was professor of sculpture at the Douai Art Schools. He then returned to Paris, where he exhibited regularly at the
Salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment that provides Cosmetics, cosmetic treatments for people. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons, spas, day spas, ...
. His works were rewarded with several awards and medals. Many of his works were purchased by the state, and he received many public commissions. Early in 1894 he was appointed professor of modeling the National Manufacture of
Sèvres Sèvres (, ) is a French Communes of France, commune in the southwestern suburbs of Paris. It is located from the Kilometre zero, centre of Paris, in the Hauts-de-Seine department of the Île-de-France region. The commune, which had a populatio ...
, a position he held until his death in 1919. On 17 January 1794 Houssin participated in a conference followed by a banquet hosted by
Charles Bodinier Charles Bodinier (6 January 1844 - 1911) was a French theater manager. After working for the Comédie-Française he became director of the Théâtre d'Application and then of the Théâtre La Bodinière. La Bodinière appealed to an elite audien ...
at the Théâtre d'Application in honor of the poet
Marceline Desbordes-Valmore Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (20 June 1786 – 23 July 1859) was a French Romanticism, French Romantic poet and novelist. Early life and education Desbordes-Valmore was born in Douai. Following the French Revolution, her father's business was ...
in the company of along with
Paul Verlaine Paul-Marie Verlaine ( ; ; 30 March 1844 – 8 January 1896) was a French poet associated with the Symbolism (movement), Symbolist movement and the Decadent movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the ''fin de siècle'' ...
,
Émile Gallé Émile Gallé (; 4 May 1846 in Nancy, France, Nancy – 23 September 1904 in Nancy) was a French artist and designer who worked in glass, and is considered to be one of the major innovators in the French Art Nouveau movement. He was noted fo ...
,
Robert de Montesquiou The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, praise, reno ...
and other personalities of the art world. It was during this conference that the idea of a monument to the poet was launched. He created the statue of the poet Marceline Desbordes-Valmore in Douai, inaugurated on 13 July 1896. It disappeared during
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. He undertook numerous public commissions, particularly in the north of France, that have now disappeared. Édouard Houssin died in
Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
on 15 May 1919. A square in
Wissant Wissant (; from , "white sand") is a seaside commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France approximately north of Boulogne, west-southwest of Calais on the English Channel coast. History Located at the easte ...
(Pas-de-Calais) bears his name. In 1895 Fernand Lefranc wrote in ''La Revue du Nord'', "His busts, all of impeccable and beautifully executed accuracy cannot be counted."


Works

Over 144 works are attributed to him, of which 99 are portraits. Today the locations of only 27 works are known. *1867 (ca.) - ''
Germanicus Germanicus Julius Caesar (24 May 15 BC – 10 October AD 19) was a Roman people, Roman general and politician most famously known for his campaigns against Arminius in Germania. The son of Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia the Younger, Germanicu ...
'', high-relief plaster, signed inscription on the back: "1867 Medal" (
Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai The Musée de la Chartreuse is an art museum in a former Carthusian monastery in Douai, France. It is the 'musée des Beaux-Arts' for the city. Building Built by Jacques d'Abancourt in brick and stone in the Renaissance style, on the site of ...
) *1877 - ''South America'', plaster, half-size model of a statue executed for the cascade of the Trocadero in collaboration with Aimé Millet on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition of 1878 (held at the Musée d'Orsay), Denonvilliers foundry. Plaster kept by the Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai. *1880 (ca) - ''Esmeralda'', Bronze casting, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai, deposited in the Botanical Gardens in 1955. *1882 ca - '' Paul Louis Courier'', original half-size model of a stone statue for the Hôtel de Ville of Paris, sketch in patinated plaster, Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai (destroyed) *1884 - ''Monument Dupleix'', project for the monument to Dupleix at
Landrecies Landrecies (; ) is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. History In 1543, Landrecies was besieged by English and Imperial forces, who were repulsed by the French defenders. In 1794, it was besieged by Dutch forces, who capt ...
, plaster molding, Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai *1885 - ''Pediment of the new museum in Douai'', high relief plaster, set of mythological figures, Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai *1886 - '' Abel Desjardins'', plaster bust (destroyed). A bronze bust exists, but was not located until it was rediscovered in the former Faculty of Arts of Lille. *1891 - ''
Ferdinand Dutert Charles Louis Ferdinand Dutert (21 October 1845 - 12 February 1906) was a French architect. Life Charles Louis Ferdinand Dutert was born on 21 October 1845 in Douai, son of a merchant of that town. He was admitted to the École nationale supéri ...
'', plaster bust of the architect, Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai *1893 - ''Colonel Guerin'', plaster bust, Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai (destroyed) *1893 - ''
Jules Breton Jules Adolphe Aimé Louis Breton (; 1 May 1827 – 5 July 1906) was a 19th-century French Naturalism (arts), naturalist Painting, painter. His paintings are heavily influenced by the French countryside and his absorption of traditional methods ...
'', Arras terracotta bust, Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai *1893 - '' Alfred Trannin'', plaster bust of the deputy, Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai (destroyed) *1895 - '' Jean Bellegambe'', Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai *1896 - ''
Marceline Desbordes-Valmore Marceline Desbordes-Valmore (20 June 1786 – 23 July 1859) was a French Romanticism, French Romantic poet and novelist. Early life and education Desbordes-Valmore was born in Douai. Following the French Revolution, her father's business was ...
'', bust *1909 ca - ''
Jules Breton Jules Adolphe Aimé Louis Breton (; 1 May 1827 – 5 July 1906) was a 19th-century French Naturalism (arts), naturalist Painting, painter. His paintings are heavily influenced by the French countryside and his absorption of traditional methods ...
and Élodie de Vigne'', bronze bas-relief plaque representing the spouses at the time of their marriage in 1858, Montparnasse Cemetery, Paris. *''M. Hanotte, Assistant to the City Hall of Douai'', terracotta, Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai (destroyed) *'' Phaëton'', stone statue, once in the
Jardin du Luxembourg The Jardin du Luxembourg (), known in English as the Luxembourg Garden, colloquially referred to as the Jardin du Sénat (Senate Garden), is located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, France. The creation of the garden began in 1612 when Mar ...
in Paris. *''M. Cardon'', molded plaster bust, Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai (destroyed) *''
Marsyas In Greek mythology, the satyr Marsyas (; ) is a central figure in two stories involving music: in one, he picked up the double oboe (''aulos'') that had been abandoned by Athena and played it; in the other, he challenged Apollo to a contest of ...
'', high-relief plaster, Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai


Exhibitions

*1868 Salon of the Society of Friends of Arts of Douai: bust *1877
Paris Salon The Salon (), or rarely Paris Salon (French: ''Salon de Paris'' ), beginning in 1667 was the official art exhibition of the in Paris. Between 1748 and 1890 it was arguably the greatest annual or biennial art event in the Western world. At the ...
: first participation *1878 Exposition Universelle: ''South America'' *1880 Salon: Esmeralda *1885 Salon of French Artists: Pediment of the new museum in Douai *1889 Exposition Universelle: ''Esmeralda''


Public collections

*Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai: ''Pediment of the Museum'' - ''South America'' (plaster) - ''Monument Dupleix'' (plaster) - ''Jules Breton'' (plaster) - ''Germanicus'' - ''
Ferdinand Dutert Charles Louis Ferdinand Dutert (21 October 1845 - 12 February 1906) was a French architect. Life Charles Louis Ferdinand Dutert was born on 21 October 1845 in Douai, son of a merchant of that town. He was admitted to the École nationale supéri ...
'' - ''Marsyas'' *
Musée d'Orsay The Musée d'Orsay ( , , ) () is a museum in Paris, France, on the Rive Gauche, Left Bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts architecture, Beaux-Arts railway station built from 1898 to 1900. The museum holds mai ...
on the forecourt: ''South America'' (cast iron) *
Hôtel de Ville, Paris The (, ''City hall (administration), City Hall'') is the city hall of Paris, France, standing on the in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, 4th arrondissement. The south wing was originally constructed by Francis I of France, Francis I beginning ...
: ''Fronton'' - ''Paul Louis Courier'' *
Jardin du Luxembourg The Jardin du Luxembourg (), known in English as the Luxembourg Garden, colloquially referred to as the Jardin du Sénat (Senate Garden), is located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, France. The creation of the garden began in 1612 when Mar ...
: ''Phaëton'' (stone statue, moved) *
Jardin des Plantes The Jardin des Plantes (, ), also known as the Jardin des Plantes de Paris () when distinguished from other ''jardins des plantes'' in other cities, is the main botanical garden in France. Jardin des Plantes is the official name in the present da ...
: Esmeralda


References

Citations Sources * * Further reading * ''Catalogue raisonné'' in which nearly 150 sculptures are recorded, richly illustrated with photographs from the family of the artist


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Houssin, Edouard 1847 births 1919 deaths 20th-century French sculptors 19th-century French sculptors French male sculptors 19th-century French male artists