important enamel plaque - GRANDHOMME (1851-1944) et GARNIER (1848-1908)

Paul GRANDHOMME (1851-1944)
and Alfred GARNIER (1848-1908)

Allegories of Carnal Love and Chaste Love

Very important plaque in translucent and opaque polychrome enamel on copper,
with gold spangles and gold highlights.
Set in its original silver setting.
Presented in its original morocco leather box-frame.

Signed and dated lower right "Grandhomme Garnier Emailleurs 1889"

plaque : height 26 cm / width 21 cm
box-frame : height 33 cm / width closed 27 cm / width open 54 cm / depth 4 cm

Biographies :
Paul Grandhomme (1851-1944) was a French painter, enameler, goldsmith and medalist. He was the student of the painter and jeweler Auguste Mollard (1836-1916) and presented in 1874, at the Salon of French Artists, a neo-Renaissance enameled portrait, "Vittoria Colonna". Determined to improve himself, he entered the workshop of Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (1824-1898), took advice from Jules-Élie Delaunay (1828-1891) and was influenced by his friend the painter Raphaël Collin (1850-1916). Mastering his technique, Grandhomme then approached Gustave Moreau (1826-1898), and transposed the artist's poetic paintings into enamel, which enjoyed great success at the Salon.

In 1877, Paul Grandhomme's student was Alfred Garnier (1848-1908), an engraver on hard stones and metal who completed his training in the workshop of Alexandre Cabanel (1823-1889). Both then created and signed works together. They joined forces in 1888 and presented in 1890, at the Salon of the Society of French Artists, a "Virgin" after Carlo Crivelli as well as a portrait of King Edward VII, then in 1895, exhibited at the Salon of French Artists, after Gustave Moreau, "Sapho", "Léda" and "Youth and Immortality" (now kept at the Orsay Museum). Paul Grandhomme and Alfred Garnier collaborated on their creations until 1895.