Prosper Lafaye
Prosper Lafaye | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Mont-Saint-Sulpice, France |
| Died | March 3, 1883 (aged 76) Paris, France |
| Occupation(s) | Painter, stained glass designer and restorer |
| Years active | 1827–1883 |
| Known for | Court artist to King Louis-Philippe I; stained glass design and restoration |
Prosper Lafaye, born Lafait on 23 September 1806 in Mont-Saint-Sulpice and deceased on 3 March 1883 in Paris, was a distinguished French artist who served at the court of King Louis-Philippe I. He was also acclaimed as a designer and expert in the craft of stained glass.
Biography
The son of a mason named Victor, Lafaye relocated to Paris at the age of fourteen to reside with an uncle. His artistic education began in relatively obscure ateliers before he joined the studio of Auguste Couder in 1827. His debut exhibition took place in 1831, showcasing an equestrian portrait of Napoleon. Subsequently, Lafaye collaborated with Jean Alaux on the restoration of grand-scale paintings, particularly engaging in work at the Château de Versailles.
From 1834 through 1837, he created multiple battle paintings destined for the Musée de l'Histoire de France located at Versailles. Between 1838 and 1842, his services were commissioned by members of the Royal Family as well as affluent segments of French society.
A visit to Burgundy in 1845 ignited his passion for stained glass design and restoration. He taught himself through hands-on involvement with projects at Notre-Dame-des-Blancs-Manteaux and Saint-Eustache. Later, Lafaye undertook restoration work on windows at several churches including Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, Saint-Nicolas-du-Chardonnet, Saint-Médard, and Saint-Merri.
In 1851, he presented his work at the Great Exhibition in London and employed assistants Annette and Sophie Coppée, sisters of the poet François Coppée. He married Sophie in 1852; she significantly contributed to the production of stained glass windows and is believed to have independently crafted certain pieces. Between 1864 and 1866, the couple produced windows for the Louvre, followed by commissions for his native parish church.
Lafaye maintained his painting practice throughout his career, participating in exhibitions such as the Exposition Universelle (1855), Exposition Universelle (1867), and Exposition Universelle (1878).
Following his passing, his atelier ceased operations; his son Savinien had died in 1854, and none of his daughters pursued the trade. Both Lafaye and Sophie were laid to rest in Mont-Saint-Sulpice.
Further reading
- Note sur l'état actuel de l'art de la peinture sur verre, au sujet des réparations à faire aux vitraux peints de l'église Saint-Etienne du Mont, authored by Prosper Lafaye, 1849
- Mémoire au sujet des vitraux anciens, état où ils se trouvent après le siège dans les églises de Paris, addressed to Léon Say, Prefect of the Seine, by Prosper Lafaye following the Paris Commune
- Exposition universelle de Londres. Vitraux, written by Prosper Lafaye, 1881
External links
- Biography of Prosper Lafaye on the Mont-Saint-Sulpice website
- Rapport du Jury Central sur les Produits de l'Agriculture et de l'Industrie exposés en 1849, Imprimerie Nationale, Paris, 1849, references to Lafaye on page 881