Borg Antiquarian

LE CHARETTE DU DIEU [Trans: "THE LITTLE CHARIOT OF GOD"]

Burnand, Eugene

France likely - perhaps near Versailles or Provence: Original by artist, 9/7?/81 [September 1st or 7th?, 1881]. Eugene Burnand. Ink on Paper Sketch. Framed, matted, & glazed. Dated Ink on Paper Drawing: "9/7/1881." Titled by the artist below the image: "Le Charette du Dieu" and Signed "E. Burnand" [Eugène Burnand]. The piece overall measures: 12.75" H x 15.75" W; image: 6.25" H x 9".25 W; matted in a gilt-textured wooden frame and under glass. Weight: 2 lbs. Very Good. Item #9462

Eugène Burnand's evocative yet poignant drawing depicts a downcast and seemingly poor older woman wearing bonnet and cloak driving a correspondingly downbeat shaggy donkey that's over-burdoned by having to haul her large-wheeled loaded cart.

To accentuate and contrast the scenes' pathos, artist Burnand has lightly sketched in the background outlines of a fancy city equipage, large buildings, and lampposts. He has ironically captioned his sketch: "Le Charette du Dieu" [the Cart or Small Chariot of God] suggestively echoing the famous biblical phrase "Chariots of the Gods" [plural] based on Isaiah 66:15: "...the Lord will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger in fury...." Here, the title seems a call for social justice urgently needed to rectify this poor old woman's plight.

Eugène Burnand, Swiss, (born 30 August 1850 - Moudon, Vaud, Switzerland - died 4 February 1921 - Paris, France). Burnand was a highly skilled naturalistic artist with many skills: sketching, engraving, painting in watercolours and oils. Honored in Switzerland and France--where he resided for most of his creative life--Burnand is highly regarded for the pastoral and alpine pictures in Switzerland and France that made his name. Late in life, he also created large and very finely-detailed historic and religious pictures, and he executed many illustrations for classic books.

[We have prepared the mini-biography that follows by abridging closely from doug@eugene-burnand.com (a website created by Doug Jenkinson). The site's comprehensive studies are based upon Jenkinson's extensive researches; the artist's works in the Musée Eugène Burnand in Moudon; and more recently upon the comprehensive book: Eugène Burnand, peintre naturaliste by Philippe Kaenel (Professor of Art History at Lausanne University) ISBN:88-7439-104-8. We have also used Wikipedia.]

As a youth, Eugene's father, a forestry inspector from a French-speaking region of France, encouraged him to study architecture in Zurich (1867-71).

Thereafter, Eugene pursued art studies in Geneva under Bathélemy Menn; then moved to Paris and advanced studies under Jean-Leon Gér me. Versatile Éugene sold illustrations to publishers while also creating dynamic canvases such as "La Pompe à Feu," (1879).

After painting many subjects in Provence, the artist moved to Versailles and married Julia Girardet, daughter of an engraver with whom he studied. The young married couple also had two boys--the first of whom sadly died in 1879; though a second son was born in 1880.

In mid-1881, when Eugène created this triste study--ironically entitled "The Little Chariot of God"--of a poor downcast woman driving a drooping and dilapidated donkey hauling her heavily laden two-wheeled cart, the artist's family equilibrium recently had been severely whipsawed by the death of one son and the birth of another. The artist's stressful domestic situation in Versailles--and fancy carriages and lampposts hinted at in the background--suggest that the setting for this e poingnant subject was nearby--perhaps in Paris.

Still needing to make a living, though, Eugene in 1880 had enthusiastically prepared a series of illustrations for a new edition of the then famous epic "Mireille" by the Provençal poet Frédéric Mistral. Burnand became a lifelong friend of the poet; even naming a daughter after the poem's heroine. So just possibly, we have here a scene from southern France.

In 1883, Burnand made a series of watercolors for an edition of Alphonse Daudet's novels. In 1884, he painted the powerful and memorable "Bull in the Alps" (1884) in Switzerland. Such studies enhanced Burnand's reputation as a master of animal painting and rural life.

The following year of 1885--perhaps flush with increased income--Burnand moved his large family from Versailles to Paris. His rising fame led to more commissions and works such as: " La Faucheur" and" "Le Semeur." He also created "Dans les Haut Patùrages" for Nestlé, which was widely distributed.

Eugene also supervised the Swiss fine arts participation in the Universal Exhibition of Fine Arts in Paris (1889), where he won a gold medal (1st class). By '93, he was enrolled as a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour.

Even with such successess, as a filial and caring son, Eugène moved his family to Seppey to care for his sick parents. After their decease, he relocated his family to Montpellier. Eugene also created a noteworthy historical painting "La Fuite de Charles le Téméraire."

After his parents' deaths, having been raised in a deeply religious Protestant family--Burnand now concentrated on religious art relating to Jesus. In that religious vein, one of his best known works is "The Disciples" (1898), which once hung in the Luxembourg Museum in Paris, but now is in the Musée d'Orsay. Related religious themes recur in his four-year project entitled "Les Paraboles"; and "La Voie douloureuse." His illustrated edition of "Les Paraboles" was published in 1908.

The following year, Burnand designed 400 and 1000 franc notes for the Swiss Bank. Then in 1913, as war clouds gathered, he iillustrated a book on St. Francis of Assissi. Eugène and his family survived the war in Seppey, though one son served in the French army and four others in the Swiss. During this hectic time, Burnand continued to work on large canvases such as "Labour dans le Jurat" (burned in 1915; recreated in 1916). He also organized conferences that dealt with religion and art.

As a saleable counterpoint to his religious themes, the artist created a series of portraits called "Les Allies dans La Guerre des Nations" that grew to more than 100 paintings. He also created a heartfelt painting depicting a woman wearing a red cross on her breast, who protectively covers three huddled children with her cloak. The then Swiss Red Cross won the Nobel Peace Prize the same year his image of tendresse appeared.

Sadly, the Spanish Flu which ravaged the world soon after the war, also killed his artist-son Daniel and afflicted Eugene. Thereafter, he seems to have had a succession of heart attacks and pneumonia that led to his death. Just before his death, Eugene Burnand was created an Officer of the Legion of Honour.

Good condition: Signed and captioned by the artist. Paper has a uniform tan tone with a couple of tiny edge nicks at the top of the drawing [possibly where it once may have been pinned]; set in an attractive matted wooden gilded frame under glass, The sketch has not been removed from the framing for inspection.

Price: $275.00