Lucien Bégule
Lucien Bégule | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Saint-Genis-Laval, France |
| Died | February 1, 1935 (aged 86) Lyon, France |
| Occupation(s) | Artist, stained-glass painter, archaeologist, photographer |
| Known for | Stained-glass painting and archaeological research |
Lucien Bégule (10 May 1848, Saint-Genis-Laval – 1 February 1935, Lyon) was a French artist specializing in stained-glass painting, an archaeologist, and an enthusiastic amateur photographer.
Biography
Son of Georges Bégule, an auctioneer, and Stéphanie Peillon, Lucien was raised in an environment deeply rooted in religious devotion and artistic influence. At the age of eight, he developed a fascination with medieval manuscripts, which ignited his enduring interest in the Middle Ages. He attended Notre Dame de Mongré High School, where he cultivated an early enthusiasm for photography.
Thanks to personal contacts, Bégule apprenticed under Jean-Baptiste Chatigny and received instruction from Pierre Bossan. At twenty years old, he assisted Bossan in the architectural design of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. In 1873, he became a partner in Pierre Miciol’s stained glass workshop but separated from the firm two years later due to financial difficulties. Between 1877 and 1880, he collaborated with ornamental painter Jacobé Razuret while conducting studies of cathedrals in Chartres, Sens, Bourges, and Troyes, ultimately deciding to dedicate himself exclusively to stained glass artistry.
Supported by his father in 1879, Bégule founded his own studio located behind the family residence, officially opening it in 1880—the same year his son Joseph-Émile was born; Joseph-Émile would follow in his footsteps as a glass painter. Initially serving clients in Lyon and neighboring départements such as Loire and Ardèche, Bégule’s reputation expanded nationally and internationally with commissions including Nagasaki’s Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Tigrane Pasha’s palace in Cairo, and the church of the Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul in Rio de Janeiro.
His most prolific phase spanned from 1891 to 1898 during which his workshop produced more than four hundred stained glass windows. These works predominantly showcased archaic medieval styles that mirrored his archaeological interests. While primarily focused on ecclesiastical projects, some pieces were created for private residences. Distinguished artists like Eugène Grasset, Charles Lebayle, and Tony Tollet occasionally contributed designs. Among these is Grasset’s depiction of Saint George and the Dragon, which was displayed at the 1889 Exposition Universelle and is now part of the collection at the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon.
Following the enactment of the 1905 Law on the Separation of Churches and State, Bégule closed his studio. He then intensified his archaeological research by joining the Société Française d'Archéologie and publishing detailed studies on religious architecture such as Les Incrustations décoratives des Cathédrales de Lyon et de Vienne and L'Abbaye de Fontenay et l'architecture cistercienne.
In 1924, he was appointed Conservateur des antiquités et objets d'art for the Rhône département. After authoring Antiquité et Richesse d'Art dans le Département du Rhône in 1925, he advanced to divisional inspector within the Société. Bégule received the title of Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1928 and was promoted to Inspector General in 1929. He passed away in 1935 at eighty-six years old; today a street in Lyon honors his legacy.
Further reading
- Obituary, "Lucien Bégule (1848-1935)", In: Bulletin monumental, 1935, vol.94, pp.125-126
- "Redécouvrir l'œuvre du maître verrier lyonnais Lucien Bégule", In: Le bulletin, #114, June 2018, Sauvegarde et Embellissement de Lyon
- Maryannick Lavigne-Louis, "BÉGULE Lucien (1848-1935)", in: Dominique Saint-Pierre (Ed.), Dictionnaire historique des académiciens de Lyon 1700-2016, Éditions de l'Académie, 2017, pp.118-121
External links
- Correspondence and creations on the Lucien Bégule official site
- Artistic works by Lucien Bégule at Patrimoine Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes