Edgard Maxence 1871-1954

Overview
Edgard Maxence

EDGARD MAXENCE – FRENCH SYMBOLIST PAINTER

Born in Nantes into a wealthy family, nothing initially destined Edgard Maxence (1871–1954) to pursue an artistic vocation. Yet, after completing his schooling, he enrolled in the city’s École des Beaux-Arts, where he studied under Alexandre Chantron.

 

LIFE, STYLE AND WORKS OF EDGARD MAXENCE

In 1891, the young artist was admitted to the entrance competition of the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and joined the studio of fellow Nantais Jules-Elie Delaunay, where he met Georges Rouault. When Delaunay died a few months later, he was replaced by Gustave Moreau, who would exert a decisive influence on Maxence.

Awarded Premier Logiste in 1893 and first prize for expressive figure painting in 1894, Maxence abandoned the competition for the Prix de Rome after failing in 1895. Encouraged by his master, he began exhibiting at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1894. In addition to portraiture, at which he excelled (see Portrait de jeune femme [Portrait of a Young Woman], c. 1895, or Portrait de Madame Godchaud [Portrait of Madame Godchaud], 1924), he devoted himself to history painting, drawing from Moreau’s Symbolism and producing, in oil and pastel, biblical, mythological, or Breton legendary scenes that were well received. Buoyed by his early successes, Maxence participated in the last three Salons of the Rose+Croix from 1895 to 1897, then at the 1900 Universal Exposition, where he won a gold medal. Knighted in the Légion d’honneur that same year, he was promoted to officer in 1927, after being elected to the Institut in 1924.

Today, the works of Edgard Maxence are held in major museums such as the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nantes, and the Musée de Rennes. His art occupies a distinctive place within French Symbolist art.

Works
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  • Edgard Maxence, L'Encens, circa 1896
    Edgard Maxence
    L'Encens, circa 1896
  • Edgard Maxence, Portrait de jeune femme, circa 1895
    Edgard Maxence
    Portrait de jeune femme, circa 1895
  • Edgard Maxence, Portrait de madame Godchaud, 1924
    Edgard Maxence
    Portrait de madame Godchaud, 1924
Exhibitions
Biography
Edgard Maxence

FAQ – EDGARD MAXENCE AND SYMBOLISM

What inspired Edgard Maxence’s fascination with spirituality and mysticism?

Maxence was deeply influenced by the Symbolist quest for transcendence and by the esoteric ideas circulating in late-19th-century Paris. His connection to the Salon de la Rose-Croix, a movement combining art, religion, and occultism, reinforced his conviction that painting could reveal truths beyond the material world.

 

How did Maxence’s academic training shape his Symbolist style?

Although focused on visionary themes, Maxence benefited from a rigorous education at the École des Beaux-Arts, where he studied drawing, anatomy, and classical composition. This technical precision gave his ethereal figures and luminous surfaces rare clarity and harmony, setting his work apart from more spontaneous Symbolist artists.

 

What themes and motifs are most often found in Edgard Maxence’s paintings?

Maxence’s art often depicts female figures as symbols of virtue, silence, or spiritual awakening. His compositions integrate mythological motifs, religious undertones, and ornate backgrounds, creating an atmosphere of reverie and introspection.