Félix Taunay
Encyclopedia
Félix Émile Taunay, 2nd Baron of Taunay (March 1, 1795 — April 10, 1881) was a French
painter, drawing
and Greek
teacher. He was the father of famous writer and politician Alfredo d'Escragnolle Taunay, the Viscount
of Taunay.
He was born in a house that belonged to Jean-Jacques Rousseau
, in the city of Montmorency
. His father, Nicolas-Antoine Taunay, was also a painter, an aristocrat and one of the founders of the Institut de France
. Taunay and his father left France after Napoleon Bonaparte's defeat, invited to go to Brazil
by the Marquess
of Marialva
, Pedro José Joaquim Vito de Meneses Coutinho.
They arrived in Brazil in 1816, where Nicolas-Antoine became a history painting
teacher at the Escola Nacional de Belas Artes
and received the title of Baron
of Taunay. Three years later, Nicolas-Antoine would return to France, leaving Félix his post at the Academy.
He became the Academy's headmaster in 1834, and, in the following year, he was appointed as a young Emperor Pedro II
's Greek
, drawing and literature tutor.
He married Gabriela d'Escragnolle, sister of Gastão d'Escragnolle, and went to live with her in the house his father built, in Tijuca
, near a waterfall. Today, this waterfall is known as "Cascatinha Taunay".
He was the 2nd Baron of Taunay, following his father, and was appointed to the Order of the Rose
, to the Order of Merit and was also a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur
in 1851. He also became a member of the Brazilian Historic and Geographic Institute
. During his final years, Taunay suffered from blindness, what made him retire precociously.
Before dying, Taunay uttered "Adieu, belle nature du Brésil! Adieu, ma belle cascade!" (French
for "Farewell, beautiful nature of Brazil! Farewell, my beautiful waterfall!").
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
painter, drawing
Drawing
Drawing is a form of visual art that makes use of any number of drawing instruments to mark a two-dimensional medium. Common instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes, wax color pencils, crayons, charcoal, chalk, pastels, markers, styluses, and various metals .An artist who...
and Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
teacher. He was the father of famous writer and politician Alfredo d'Escragnolle Taunay, the Viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
of Taunay.
He was born in a house that belonged to Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of 18th-century Romanticism. His political philosophy influenced the French Revolution as well as the overall development of modern political, sociological and educational thought.His novel Émile: or, On Education is a treatise...
, in the city of Montmorency
Montmorency, Val-d'Oise
Montmorency is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Montmorency was the fief of the Montmorency family, one of the oldest and most distinguished families of the French nobility...
. His father, Nicolas-Antoine Taunay, was also a painter, an aristocrat and one of the founders of the Institut de France
Institut de France
The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...
. Taunay and his father left France after Napoleon Bonaparte's defeat, invited to go to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
by the Marquess
Marquess
A marquess or marquis is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The term is also used to translate equivalent oriental styles, as in imperial China, Japan, and Vietnam...
of Marialva
Marialva
Marialva is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
, Pedro José Joaquim Vito de Meneses Coutinho.
They arrived in Brazil in 1816, where Nicolas-Antoine became a history painting
History painting
History painting is a genre in painting defined by subject matter rather than an artistic style, depicting a moment in a narrative story, rather than a static subject such as a portrait...
teacher at the Escola Nacional de Belas Artes
Escola Nacional de Belas Artes
Escola de Belas Artes is one of the centers of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and dates back to colonial times....
and received the title of Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
of Taunay. Three years later, Nicolas-Antoine would return to France, leaving Félix his post at the Academy.
He became the Academy's headmaster in 1834, and, in the following year, he was appointed as a young Emperor Pedro II
Pedro II of Brazil
Dom Pedro II , nicknamed "the Magnanimous", was the second and last ruler of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was the seventh child of Emperor Dom Pedro I of Brazil and Empress Dona Maria Leopoldina and thus a member of the Brazilian branch of...
's Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, drawing and literature tutor.
He married Gabriela d'Escragnolle, sister of Gastão d'Escragnolle, and went to live with her in the house his father built, in Tijuca
Tijuca
Tijuca is a neighbourhood of the Northern Zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It comprises the region of Saens Peña and Afonso Pena squares. According to the 2000 Census, the district has close to 150,000 inhabitants...
, near a waterfall. Today, this waterfall is known as "Cascatinha Taunay".
He was the 2nd Baron of Taunay, following his father, and was appointed to the Order of the Rose
Order of the Rose
The Imperial Order of the Rose is an Brazilian order of chivalry, instituted by Emperor Pedro I of Brazil on 17 October 1829 to commemorate his marriage to Amélie of Leuchtenberg....
, to the Order of Merit and was also a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in 1851. He also became a member of the Brazilian Historic and Geographic Institute
Brazilian Historic and Geographic Institute
The Brazilian Historic and Geographic Institute , founded October 21, 1838, is the oldest and traditional authority to promote research and preservation of historical and geographical, cultural and social sciences in Brazil....
. During his final years, Taunay suffered from blindness, what made him retire precociously.
Before dying, Taunay uttered "Adieu, belle nature du Brésil! Adieu, ma belle cascade!" (French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
for "Farewell, beautiful nature of Brazil! Farewell, my beautiful waterfall!").