Alexandre Séon 1855-1917

Overview
Alexandre Séon

ALEXANDRE SÉON – FRENCH SYMBOLIST PAINTER


Born to a cloth merchant from the Lyon region, Alexandre Séon (1855–1917), who was drawn to art from an early age, received his first guidance from a neighborhood sign painter who taught him the names of colors.

 

LIFE AND TRAINING OF ALEXANDRE SÉON

Choosing to pursue an artistic career, he moved to Paris and joined Henri Lehmann’s studio at the École des Beaux-Arts in 1878, where he befriended Aman-Jean, Alphonse Osbert, Ernest Laurent, and Georges Seurat. A diligent and sensitive student, he made his debut at the Salon in 1879 and, the following year, met Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, who quickly made him one of his principal collaborators and most devoted disciples. He took part in the creation of several major mural decorations, most notably at the Panthéon, the Paris City Hall, and the Sorbonne, absorbing from his master the synthetic clarity of composition and a sense of the monumental. This experience led to the commission for the decoration of the wedding hall in the Courbevoie town hall, executed between 1885 and 1889. Shown at the Universal Exhibition shortly before being permanently installed, these works earned Séon a silver medal as well as considerable critical attention.

 

SYMBOLIST STYLE AND MAjor WORKS

A regular exhibitor at the Salon des Artistes Français and an occasional participant in the Indépendants since 1888, the young artist was encouraged by Puvis to join the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts as early as 1890. In the following years, deeply influenced by the flourishing French Symbolist movement, he developed a more refined and introspective style, exemplified by Séon’s female portraits, and from 1892 onward took part in the exhibitions Impressionist and Symbolist Painters at the Le Barc de Boutteville gallery.

Working closely with José-Maria de Heredia, Jean Lorrain, and Joséphin Péladan, he became one of the leading artists of the Salon de la Rose+Croix, in which he participated without interruption from 1892 to 1897. Deeply involved in the movement, he designed the emblems of the Rose+Croix and the frontispieces for Péladan’s works. From this point on, Alexandre Séon’s paintings were marked by the pure linearity inherited from the Pre-Raphaelites, a restrained palette, and an iconography shaped by an idealized feminine figure infused with mysticism and a quest for the absolute.

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  • Alexandre Séon, Le sommeil, Circa 1893
    Alexandre Séon
    Le sommeil, Circa 1893
Exhibitions
Biography
Alexandre Séon

FAQ: ALEXANDRE SÉON AND SYMBOLISM

What was the Salon de la Rose + Croix?

The Salon de la Rose + Croix was an influential series of exhibitions held in Paris between 1892 and 1897, founded by writer and critic Joséphin Péladan. It provided a platform for artists exploring mystical, symbolic, and spiritual themes, emphasizing idealized beauty and esoteric subjects. The salon encouraged collaboration between painters, poets, and musicians, shaping the trajectory of French Symbolism in the late 19th century.

 

Which literary figures influenced Séon’s work?

Séon drew inspiration from authors such as Jean Lorrain and José-Maria de Heredia, whose Symbolist poetry resonated with his artistic ideals. These exchanges enriched his paintings with narrative and allegorical dimensions, reflecting the close relationship between literature and the visual arts within the Symbolist movement.

 

Where can Alexandre Séon’s works be seen today?

Works by Alexandre Séon can be found in French public collections and select private holdings. Collectors and enthusiasts can contact the gallery for acquisition inquiries and exhibition details.