Henri Pinta
Henri Pinta | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Marseille, France |
| Died | October 18, 1944 (aged 88) Paris, France |
| Occupation(s) | Painter, mosaic artist, stained glass artist |
| Known for | Religious paintings, mosaics, stained glass design |
Henri Ludovic Marius Pinta (born 15 June 1856 in Marseille, died 18 October 1944 in Paris) was a French artist renowned for his religious paintings, as well as his contributions to mosaic and stained glass design.
Biography
Pinta received his artistic training from Alexandre Cabanel and Jules Lefebvre. In 1884, he earned the prestigious Prix de Rome with a painting illustrating the "oath of Brutus" following the death of Lucretia. Between 1885 and 1888, he lived at the Villa Médicis in Rome, then under the direction of Ernest Hébert. His exhibitions during this period generated debate due to his atypical religious themes, such as "Christ Weeping Over the Futility of His Sacrifice," which depicted Jesus devoid of traditional divine attributes. Other pieces like "Saint Martha" and "Mass at Bolsena" provoked varied critical responses. Among his notable portraits is that of composer Claude Debussy from 1886.
By 1890, Pinta became a member of the Société des Artistes Français and frequently showcased his work at the Salon. Significant later creations include "Naissance du Jour" (1903), which achieved widespread reproduction, and a distinctive "Sacred Heart" painting inspired by the grief over losing two sons during World War I; this work was particularly esteemed by Teilhard de Chardin.
Throughout his life, Pinta maintained a close friendship with fellow Marseille artist Alexandre Jean-Baptiste Brun. Over time, his artistic approach became more traditional as he concentrated on designs for ecclesiastical decoration. In 1915, he produced a mural depicting Saint Joseph’s death for the Saint-François Xavier des Missions étrangères church. Collaborating with stained glass craftsman Louis-Charles-Marie Champigneulle, he contributed designs for windows in Saint Vaast church in Béthune and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Marseille.
In 1933, Pinta and Champigneulle returned to the Basilica to develop choir mosaics spanning 120 square meters, a project that reached completion by 1941.
Further reading
- Suzanne Arzoumanian-Soulé, Henri Pinta (Marseille 1856-Paris 1944) : Vie et œuvre, Masters Thesis, 2002, Aix-Marseille University.
External links
- "Who Was Henri Pinta?" @ Teilhard's Sacred Heart
- "Henri Pinta and the Sacred Heart" @ Teilhard's Sacred Heart