To aid young French artists financially, and draw the United States and France closer together
Presented by
Fondation franco-américaine Florence Blumenthal
First awarded
1919
Last awarded
1950s?
The Prix Blumenthal (or Blumenthal Prize) was a grant or stipend awarded through the philanthropy of Florence Meyer Blumenthal (1875–1930) – and the foundation she created, Fondation franco-américaine Florence Blumenthal (Franco-American Florence Blumenthal Foundation) – to discover young French artists, aid them financially, and in the process draw the United States and France closer together through the arts.[1]
Winners were designated by seven juries in the fields of the literature, painting, sculpture, decorative arts, structure, engraving and music – to receive a purse of six thousand francs per year, given for two years. The purse increased in 1926 until Blumenthal's death in 1930 to ten thousand francs for two years.
Composer Georges Migot served as vice-president and subsequently as president (1931–1935)[2] of the foundation, as well as the archivist of the winners.[2]
Beginning in 1919 the foundation awarded nearly two hundred grants, and on April 11, 1937, the Prix Blumenthal was declared d'utilité publique ("of public service"), giving it a special tax classification.[2] Awards were given through 1954.[1] At the time of the foundation's dissolution in 1973[2] it was under the direction of Georges Huisman, director of the école des Beaux-Arts, along with author André Maurois and novelist Roland Dorgelès.[2]
In 2010 (May 14 – June 5), the Médiathèque of Haguenau hosted an exhibit of the Florence Blumenthal archives.[2]
Florence Meyer Blumenthal had married international financier George Blumenthal in 1898 [1] and in 1919, she organized what was originally called the La Fondation américaine Blumenthal pour la pensée et l’art français (American Foundation for French Art and Thought) – a name suggested by her friend, Paul Valéry, the poet and essayist[2] – and what ultimately became Fondation franco-américaine Florence Blumenthal.
As an example of the impact of the Prix Blumenthal, textile artist Paule Marrot received the stipend in 1928, which allowed Marrot to open her workshop in Batignolles on rue Truffaut – where she became widely known for furniture textiles.[5] Marrot went on to experience strong popularity and commercial success in the U.S. after World War II, made a strong impact at Renault by pioneering the company's textile and color division, and redefined furnishing fabrics in France. In 1952 Marrot was awarded the French Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honor), (Chevalier) – and her textiles continue under license to diverse companies including Nike, Anthropologie and the handbag maker, Hayden-Harnett.[5][6][7]
^"Catalogue of the Art Collection George & Florence Blumenthal". RAantiques.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. By today's standards, George and Florence Blumenthal would definitely be considered a power couple. With palatial homes in New York and Paris, and Mediterranean yachting vacations, the Blumenthals lived vibrantly in a vibrant time. In her autobiography, retired Washington Post editor Katharine Graham described her aunt, Florence Blumenthal, as her father's much-loved sister with the perfect figure. Known as Florie to the family, she was known for bringing home massive amounts of clothing from Paris. She was also related to the powerful Levi Strauss family through her older sisters, Rosalie and Elise, each of whom had married a nephew of Strauss'. Eccentric and generous, Mrs. Blumenthal endowed the Franco-American Foundation's Florence Blumenthal Prize, and had a street named for her in Paris.
^"Eloge de Bordeaux Trésors d'une collection". Galerie des beaux-arts, Bordeaux. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2010-07-16. BUTHAUD, René (Saintes, 1886 - 1986, Bordeaux) Fils d'un Bordelais, René Buthaud se fixe à Bordeaux dès son plus jeune âge où il est d'abord élève de Paul Quinsac, puis étudie à l'Ecole des Beaux-arts de Paris dans la classe de Gabriel Ferrier. Il reçoit une formation de peintre et de graveur et, est second Prix de Rome de gravure en taille douce en 1914. Démobilisé en 1918 pour des raisons de santé, il commence alors sa carrière de céramiste après en avoir appris les rudiments chez un potier durant la guerre. L'obtention du Prix de Florence Blumenthal, en 1921, lui permet de faire un stage à la maison L'Hospier à Golfe-Juan, où il perfectionne sa connaissance des émaux. Il expose dès 1920 chaque année au Salon des Artistes décorateurs et au Salon d'Automne. Entre 1923 et 1926, il dirige l'usine Primavera, fondée par René Guilleré à Sainte Radegonde, près de Tours. De 1928 à 1964, il présente ses céramiques à la maison Rouard à Paris. La ville de Bordeaux lui fait plusieurs commandes officielles : en 1937, il réalise les vases en mosaïque pour le Palais des sports et les bas-reliefs en plâtre des quatre saisons pour la mairie du Bouscat ; au début des années cinquante, il refait en faïence le grand cadran de l'horloge du Palais de la Bourse ; en 1951, il conçoit deux vitraux pour la maison du Vin et des bas-reliefs pour la façade d'une école. Il est nommé, en 1931, professeur des arts décoratifs à l'école des Beaux-arts de Bordeaux, au sein de laquelle il crée un atelier de céramique en 1955
^"André FRAYE". Ministère de l'Ecologie. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
