Barthélemy Menn

Early Life and Education

• Born: Geneva, Switzerland (1815)
• Died: 1893
• Parents: Louis John Menn (confectioner) and Charlotte-Madeleine-Marguerite Bodmer.
• Early artistic training began at age twelve with Jean Duboi.
• Studied at the Geneva Arts Society drawing school.
• In 1833, entered the studio of Ingres in Paris, receiving formal academic training.
• During his time in Paris, he copied works by Raphael, Titian, Veronese and Rubens.
• Spent time studying classical antiquities from Pompeii.

Artistic Development and Influences

• Early Travels: Visited Milan, Venice, Padua, Bologna, Florence, and Rome (1834-1838).
• Influence of Corot & Barbizon School: Became friends with Camille Corot and was influenced by the Barbizon school painters.
• Introduction to Plein Air Painting: Began practicing plein air painting during his time in Italy, a significant departure from traditional studio practices.
• Paysage Intime: Developed a style known as "paysage intime" (intimate landscape), characterized by simple, understated scenes of rural life.
• Destruction of Early Works: Between 1880 and 1890, Menn destroyed many of his earlier works, seeking to refine his artistic vision.

Major Themes and Style

• Focus on Nature: Menn's work primarily depicted landscapes, often featuring scenes from the Swiss countryside.
• Quiet Observation: His paintings emphasized quiet observation and a sense of tranquility.
• Rejection of Grandiloquence: Avoided dramatic or theatrical compositions, preferring understated realism.
• Influence of Classical Masters: Continued to study and copy works by classical masters like Raphael, demonstrating his respect for artistic tradition.
• Emphasis on Authenticity: Art historian Fritz Schmalenbach described Menn's style as characterized by authenticity and a disregard for superficial appearances.

Teaching Career and Legacy

• Professor at Geneva Art School (1850-1893): Held the position of director for 42 years, training two generations of Swiss painters.
• Notable Students: Among his most famous students were Eugène Burnand, Pierre Pignolat, Édouard Vallet and Ferdinand Hodler.
• Hodler's Influence: Hodler credited Menn as a pivotal influence in his artistic development, stating he "owed everything" to him.
• Emphasis on Individual Development: As an instructor, Menn encouraged students to develop their own unique artistic voices.
• Historical Significance: Recognized for introducing plein air painting and the paysage intime into Swiss art, paving the way for later generations of landscape painters.

Key Works

• Cherries: A Group of Young Women in a Landscape, One of Them Holding a Basket of Cherries (1855)
• Catching Frogs
• Children Playing with a Lamb (1850)
• The Spring
• Farm at Coinsins, Switzerland (1865)