Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer

Born. 30.09.1865 in Algier
Died. 24.09.1953 in Le Vésinet

French painter, Symbolism and Art Nouveau

About the artist

Lucien Lévy was born on 30 September 1865 in Algiers, French Algeria. At the age of 14, he began his studies of drawing and sculpture in Paris at the Ecole Supérieure de Dessin et de Sculpture. Three years later his first exhibit at the Paris Salon was a small ceramic plaque.
After moving to Cannes, In 1887 Lévy was responsible for the decoration of ceramics. From 1886 to 1895 he worked as a ceramic decorator and then as artistic director of the studio of Clément Massier.
Eight years later, after a short spell in Italy where he was influenced by Renaissance art, he returned to Paris to seek his fortune as a painter.
In 1896  he exhibited his first pastels and paintings under the name Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer; adding the last two syllables of his mother’s maiden name Goldhurmer.
His paintings soon became popular with the public and also with fellow artists.
From 1901, his work changed, incorporating more landscapes as a result of his travels around Europe and North Africa.

1914 – He married Emmy Fournier in 1914 and continued his work painting landscapes in both oil and pastels.

Lévy-Dhurmer died on 24 September 1953 in Le Vésinet.