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Jacques Marie Gaston Onfroy de Bréville was born in 1858 in Bar-le-Duc in northern France. Growing up in the small town in the Lorraine region had a lasting influence on the artist. As did his strict father, who stood in the way of his artistic career at the beginning. The young Jacques Onfroy de Bréville, later mostly just called "Job", discovered his love for art already in his childhood. His talent, however, remained unrecognized for a long time, as his family wanted a traditional career for their son.
Instead of studying art at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, a prestigious art school in Paris, he joined the French army at his father's insistence. In 1882, he finally returned to France to devote himself to art in Paris and finally took up studies at the École des Beaux-Arts. By this time he was already 24 years old and thus older than many of his fellow students. But even in Paris, the past did not let go of him. His time in the army left a lasting impression on the artist and also influenced his later work. Patriotic symbols, the love for France and military illustrations are shown in many of his works and this was not to change until his death. In spite of all military rigour, Onfroy de Bréville celebrated his greatest successes with the illustration of children's books. Mostly to the texts of the French author Georges Montorgueil, in which he found a connected soul. His colourful illustrations often showed "heroes of the nation", such as the probably most popular Frenchman of all times, the former French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
The art of Jacques Onfroy de Bréville, despite his work for a young audience, was never childish. Both his choice of motifs and the way he executed them bear witness to a clear spirit that always views life and people with realism. The suffering of people through wars and insecurity is also found unadorned in Job's works and is reflected by the artist in his work. Still during his lifetime he received the "Légion d'honneur" order. The highest military order of merit in France. Onfroy de Bréville died in Paris in 1931. A true-to-life reproduction of his former studio, in which he created his works throughout his life, is now in the museum of the French city of Metz and is open to visitors.
Jacques Marie Gaston Onfroy de Bréville was born in 1858 in Bar-le-Duc in northern France. Growing up in the small town in the Lorraine region had a lasting influence on the artist. As did his strict father, who stood in the way of his artistic career at the beginning. The young Jacques Onfroy de Bréville, later mostly just called "Job", discovered his love for art already in his childhood. His talent, however, remained unrecognized for a long time, as his family wanted a traditional career for their son.
Instead of studying art at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, a prestigious art school in Paris, he joined the French army at his father's insistence. In 1882, he finally returned to France to devote himself to art in Paris and finally took up studies at the École des Beaux-Arts. By this time he was already 24 years old and thus older than many of his fellow students. But even in Paris, the past did not let go of him. His time in the army left a lasting impression on the artist and also influenced his later work. Patriotic symbols, the love for France and military illustrations are shown in many of his works and this was not to change until his death. In spite of all military rigour, Onfroy de Bréville celebrated his greatest successes with the illustration of children's books. Mostly to the texts of the French author Georges Montorgueil, in which he found a connected soul. His colourful illustrations often showed "heroes of the nation", such as the probably most popular Frenchman of all times, the former French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
The art of Jacques Onfroy de Bréville, despite his work for a young audience, was never childish. Both his choice of motifs and the way he executed them bear witness to a clear spirit that always views life and people with realism. The suffering of people through wars and insecurity is also found unadorned in Job's works and is reflected by the artist in his work. Still during his lifetime he received the "Légion d'honneur" order. The highest military order of merit in France. Onfroy de Bréville died in Paris in 1931. A true-to-life reproduction of his former studio, in which he created his works throughout his life, is now in the museum of the French city of Metz and is open to visitors.