Lucien Félix Henry b. 23 May 1850

Also known as Lucien Félix Henri
  • Artist (Painter),
  • Designer ,
  • Maker (Sculptor)
A painter, sculptor and designer who was exiled to New Caledonia for his part in the siege of Paris before arriving in Australia in 1879. He was a strong advocate of a school of Australian art based on native flora.
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painter, sculptor and designer, was born in Sisteron, Basses-Alpes, France. He came to Paris when he was 17 and earned his living as an artist’s model, then enrolled at L’Ecole des Beaux Arts, where he studied under the architect Viollet-le-Duc and the painter Gérôme. He served as a national guard during the Siege and was propagandist in the 'clubs’ of the 14th arrondissement. On 18 March, solely in the 14th, he led the insurrection and occupied the Town Hall. Having become head of the 14th legion, he participated in the offensive of the 3rd April beside Duval and was taken prisoner by the Versaillais. Sentenced to death by the 19th Council of War on 18 April 1872, this was commuted to 'deportation into a fortified place’ on 22 June, which became exile in New Caledonia. In 1879, the year he painted the oil Coastal Scene with Natives, New Caledonia (offered at Sotheby’s Fine Australian Paintings , Melbourne 28-29 April 1997, lot 240, ill.), he received an amnesty and came to Sydney to live. He married and became Art Instructor at the Sydney Technical College before returning to France in 1891.

A strong advocate of a School of Australian art based on native flora, he prepared a book on the use of Australian floral motifs in decorative arts, architecture and design. It was never published but many large watercolour drawings for it are in MAAS. His advocacy for native flora influenced his students, including Lucien Dechaineux and J.R. Tranthim-Fryer , who in their turn taught other artists, like the Tasmanian woodcarver, Sarah Squire Todd . R.T. Baker, curator of the Sydney Technological Museum, published many of his designs in his Australian Flora and Applied Art (Sydney, 1915).

Henry entered the competition to design a Centenary State House in Moore Park for the 1888 centenary of white settlement with a design featuring waratah columns, staghorn, flannel flower and stenocarpus obtruding 'into every detail’. It attracted widespread ridicule. He designed the Cook and NSW stained glass windows in the Sydney Town Hall (made up by Goodlet and Smith), painted portraits and landscapes and did sculptures including modelling a bust of his fellow Communard exile, A. Tischbauer . He was a foundation member of [Royal] Art Society of New South Wales and exhibited with it. In the 1880s he travelled extensively, especially in North Queensland.

Writers:
Staff Writer
Date written:
1999
Last updated:
2011

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References [<ExternalResource: Hoskins, Ian (December 2000), 'Fear and Favour: Perceptions of Flora and Fauna in Lucien Henry's Australia', World of Art and Antiques 60th edition (December 2000- June 2001), 71-77, .>, <ExternalResource: Noel, Bernard (1878), 'Dictionnaire de la Commune', Flammarion, Paris, vol.2, p.5.>, <ExternalResource: Stephen, Ann (2001), 'Visions of a Republic: the work of Lucien Henry: Paris, Noumea, Sydney', Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: (1997), 'Fine Australian Paintings', Sotheby's, Melbourne 28-29 April.>, <ExternalResource: Baker, R. T. (1915), 'Australian Flora and Applied Art', Sydney.>, <ExternalResource: Kerr, Joan, '[Joan Kerr Archive]', National Library of Australia, Canberra, ACT.>, <ExternalResource: Michael Bogle. “Lucien Henry. A New Work.” History. Magazine of the Royal Australian Historical Society. 41: June 1995 >, <ExternalResource: MIchael Bogle. “Empire of the South.” Australiana. 16:3 August 1994.>] [<ExternalResource: Hoskins, Ian (December 2000), 'Fear and Favour: Perceptions of Flora and Fauna in Lucien Henry's Australia', World of Art and Antiques 60th edition (December 2000- June 2001), 71-77, .>, <ExternalResource: Noel, Bernard (1878), 'Dictionnaire de la Commune', Flammarion, Paris, vol.2, p.5.>, <ExternalResource: Stephen, Ann (2001), 'Visions of a Republic: the work of Lucien Henry: Paris, Noumea, Sydney', Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: (1997), 'Fine Australian Paintings', Sotheby's, Melbourne 28-29 April.>, <ExternalResource: Baker, R. T. (1915), 'Australian Flora and Applied Art', Sydney.>, <ExternalResource: Kerr, Joan, '[Joan Kerr Archive]', National Library of Australia, Canberra, ACT.>]