Alfred Manessier
Alfred Manessier | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 5, 1911 Saint-Ouen, France |
| Died | August 1, 1993 (aged 81) Orléans, France |
| Occupation(s) | Painter, stained glass artist, tapestry designer |
| Known for | Abstract paintings, stained glass windows, tapestry designs |
Alfred Manessier (born 5 December 1911 in Saint-Ouen – died 1 August 1993 in Orléans) was a prominent French artist known for his abstract paintings, stained glass creations, and tapestry designs. He was linked to the innovative School of Paris movement and actively participated in the Salon de Mai exhibitions.
Biography
Originating from Picardy, Manessier hailed from an artistic lineage—his grandfather was a decorative stonemason, and both his father and uncle pursued studies at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Abbeville. Initially enrolling in architecture studies in Paris in 1929, he transitioned to fine arts in 1935 under the tutelage of Roger Bissiere at the Académie Ranson. The passing of his father in 1936 enabled him to dedicate himself entirely to painting.
In 1937, Manessier collaborated with artists including Bissiere and Jean Bertholle on a significant mural commission for the Paris International Exposition, overseen by Sonia Delaunay and Robert Delaunay. He wed fellow painter Therese Simonnet in 1938. Drafted as a technical draftsman in 1939, he returned to Paris by 1941 to participate in the Gallery Braun exhibition "20 Young Painters," which played a key role in introducing non-figurative art to the French audience. Despite the restrictions imposed by the German Occupation against abstract art, Manessier managed to evade censorship while teaching at the anti-authoritarian group Young France.
By 1943, he abandoned teaching to concentrate exclusively on his artwork. A visit to a Trappist monastery profoundly impacted his style, inspiring abstract compositions featuring mosaic-like arrangements and vibrant colors outlined by black grids.
From 1945 onward, Manessier broadened his creative scope by designing costumes and sets for theatrical productions. Beginning in 1947, he accepted commissions for stained glass windows, followed by tapestry projects starting in 1949, weaving these disciplines throughout his oeuvre. Highlights include theater work such as the 1960 Nervi production of Decameron and stained glass installations installed in churches across Europe and Canada. His 1969 tapestry commission for Ottawa's National Arts Center represented a major international milestone.
A trip to Canada in 1967 triggered another spiritual renewal inspired by the expansive natural environment and Inuit traditions, which influenced his artistic vision.
Manessier was involved in a fatal automobile accident on 28 July 1993 in Loiret and succumbed four days later in Orléans. His funeral service was held at Saint-Sépulcre d'Abbeville, with interment at the Cimetière de Saint-Ouen in his hometown.
Selected awards
- First Prize for Painting, São Paulo Biennale, 1953
- First Prize at Vienna Exhibition of Sacred Art, 1954
- International Grand Prize for Contemporary Painting, Carnegie Institute Pittsburgh, 1955
- International Painting Prize, Valencia Venezuela, 1955
- First Prize for Engravings, Grenchen Switzerland Triennale, 1958
- Recognition at Venice Biennale’s International Institute of Liturgical Art for Crown of Thorns (Couronne d’épines), painted in 1952
- International Grand Prix for Painting at Venice Biennale, 1962
Selected museums and public collections
- Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne
- Nationalgalerie, Berlin
- Museo de Arte Moderna, Rio de Janeiro
- Kunstmuseum Atheneum, Helsinki
- Ministère des Affaires Culturelles, Paris
- Le Havre Musée, Le Havre
- Museum Boymans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
- Museo Civico, Turin
- Musée d'Histoire et d'Art, Luxembourg
- Nasjonalgalleriet, Oslo
- Malmö Museum, Malmö
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
- Moderna Museet, Stockholm
- Kunsthaus, Zurich
- Guggenheim Museum and Museum of Modern Art, New York
- Phillips Collection, Washington DC
- Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Charlotte NC
- University of Agder Art Collection, Norway