Charles-Alexandre Coëssin de la Fosse
Encyclopedia
Charles-Alexandre Coëssin de la Fosse (1829–1910) was a French neoclassisist
painter and engraver.
, Calvados
(a department in Normandy
), he went in Paris in 1857 in a way to make his first exhibition. From this time and during his entire life, he exhibited regularly at the Salon
. He painted mostly genre scenes—war, religion, and mythology
—and is noted for his skill in composition and the use of color. He died in Paris in 1910.
His work is strongly influenced by the reaction
against the Republic
, and by the Catholic religion
. This is obviously an expression of his personal conviction: actually his family was a noble
and traditional one, but the influence of his patrons was probably determinative. Much of Coëssin de la Fosse's work represents the chouans
, like L'embuscade (the ambush), or Catholic worship
scenes such as Procession autour d'une croix en pierre (Procession around a stone cross).
Today, his work is owned by museums in Bayeux
, Gray, Liège
, Lisieux
, Reims
, Paris, and New York.
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
painter and engraver.
Life
He was born in LisieuxLisieux
Lisieux is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Lisieux is the capital of the Pays d'Auge area, which is characterised by valleys and hedged farmland...
, Calvados
Calvados
The French department of Calvados is part of the region of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. It takes its name from a cluster of rocks off the English Channel coast...
(a department in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
), he went in Paris in 1857 in a way to make his first exhibition. From this time and during his entire life, he exhibited regularly at the Salon
Paris Salon
The Salon , or rarely Paris Salon , beginning in 1725 was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Between 1748–1890 it was the greatest annual or biannual art event in the Western world...
. He painted mostly genre scenes—war, religion, and mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
—and is noted for his skill in composition and the use of color. He died in Paris in 1910.
His work is strongly influenced by the reaction
Reactionary
The term reactionary refers to viewpoints that seek to return to a previous state in a society. The term is meant to describe one end of a political spectrum whose opposite pole is "radical". While it has not been generally considered a term of praise it has been adopted as a self-description by...
against the Republic
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
, and by the Catholic religion
Roman Catholicism in France
The Roman Catholic Church of France, sometimes called the "eldest daughter of the Church" owing to its early and unbroken communion with the bishop of Rome, is part of the worldwide Catholic Church...
. This is obviously an expression of his personal conviction: actually his family was a noble
French nobility
The French nobility was the privileged order of France in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern periods.In the political system of the Estates General, the nobility made up the Second Estate...
and traditional one, but the influence of his patrons was probably determinative. Much of Coëssin de la Fosse's work represents the chouans
Chouannerie
The Chouannerie was a royalist uprising in twelve of the western departements of France, particularly in the provinces of Brittany and Maine, against the French Revolution, the First French Republic, and even, with its headquarters in London rather than France, for a time, under the Empire...
, like L'embuscade (the ambush), or Catholic worship
Christian liturgy
A liturgy is a set form of ceremony or pattern of worship. Christian liturgy is a pattern for worship used by a Christian congregation or denomination on a regular basis....
scenes such as Procession autour d'une croix en pierre (Procession around a stone cross).
Today, his work is owned by museums in Bayeux
Bayeux
Bayeux is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France.Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England.-Administration:Bayeux is a sub-prefecture of Calvados...
, Gray, Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, Lisieux
Lisieux
Lisieux is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Lisieux is the capital of the Pays d'Auge area, which is characterised by valleys and hedged farmland...
, Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, Paris, and New York.
Work
- L'embuscade (oil on canvas)
- Bénédiction des combattants vendéens (oil on canvas)
- La joueuse de tambourin (oil on canvas, 1873)
- Les politiques au Palais Royal (oil on canvas, 1873)
- Après le banquet (oil on canvas, 1876)
- La mort de Dom Juan (oil on canvas, 1878)
- Une procession au Pardon de Ploumanac'h (oil on canvas, 1884)
- Le sauvetage : chasse au lion en Arabie (drawing, 1886)
- La fête de la raison (oil on canvas, 1889)
- Pousse au large (oil on canvas, 1889)
- Diane (oil on canvas, 1889)