Detail from The Canal, Amsterdam, 1889, James McNeill Whistler, The Hunterian, University of Glasgow

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Emile Blanchet

Nationality: French
Date of birth: 1852
Place of birth: Nantes
Date of death: 1931

Identity:

Joseph Simon provides a useful summary of the life of Emile Blanchet, who traded at 32 rue Bonaparte until moving to 20 rue St-Benoit by 1888: 'He married Marie or Félicité Cazaux in 1887, when he was described as of 39 rue Bonaparte, son of Jean Philibert Blanchet... In 1889 he was offering ‘couleurs extra-fines pour l’huile, l’aquarelle, etc, toiles à tableaux, chevalets, bottes d’artistes, brosses et pinceaux, huile grasse et bleu de lumière’ (Annuaire-Almanach du commerce…Didot-Bottin, 1889). He advertised in the 1896 Salon catalogue as ‘maison de la palette d’or’, founded in 1800, offering ‘Toiles a Tableaux de toutes largeurs, couleur extra fines’, with a factory and workshops at Vaugirard (Catalogue illustré du Salon, 1896)'.

Life:

He sold artist's supplies including canvases and frames, and restored paintings. Whistler appears to have patronised Benoit in Paris in the early 1890s.

Joseph Simon gives extensive details on the Blanchet firm of artist's suppliers:

'Blanchet 1853-1865, Laurent Blanchet 1866-1867, Blanchet from 1868, Blanchet Frères from 1879, Emile Blanchet 1887-1910 or later, E. Blanchet & Fils by 1913-1922 or later, Robert Blanchet by 1925-1948 or later. At 46 rue de l’Arbre Sec, Paris 1853-1860, 39 rue Bonaparte (à la Palette d'or)1861-1867, 17 rue de Grenelle-St Germain 1868-1890, 32 rue Bonaparte 1879-1887, 20/20bis rue St-Benoit, place St-Germain-des-Prés 1887-1904, 38 rue Bonaparte 1905-1948 or later. Workshops at Vaugirard. Manufacturing artists’ colourmen.'

Labreuche gives the following details about two Blanchet businesses:

'Blanchet - 1853-1883 : articles de dessin, articles de peinture, encadreur, marchand de cadres, fabricant de couleurs fines, fabricant de toiles à peindre, location de mannequins, marchand de couleurs fines, marchand de toiles à peindre, rentoileur, restaurateur. Ancienne adresse 46, rue de l'Arbre-Sec; Ancienne adresse 39, rue Bonaparte; Ancienne adresse 17, rue de Grenelle Saint-. Fournisseur : Blanchet - 1853-1883.

Blanchet - 1879-1964 fabricant de couleurs fines, fabricant de toiles à peindre Ancienne adresse 32, rue Bonaparte Ancienne adresse 20, rue Saint-Benoît Ancienne adresse 38, rue Bonaparte Fournisseur : Blanchet - 1879-1964.'

The stamp of the latter (20 Rue St Benoit, Paris) is on the canvases of The Blue Girl: Portrait of Connie Gilchrist y207, Harmony in Fawn Colour and Purple: Portrait of Miss Milly Finch y238, Rose et argent: La Jolie Mutine y389. His stamp is also on the panel on which Study for Three Decorative Panels Representing 'The Landing of Columbus', 'Queen Isabel la Católica of Spain' and 'Queen Elizabeth of England' y396 was painted.

Bibliography:

Labreuche, Pascal, Guide Historique des fournisseurs de matériel pour artistes à Paris 1790-1960, online

Simon, J. , British artists' suppliers, 1650-1950, National Portrait Gallery