Apo t1o ~II - JWU Ij 4~ Masterpieces of the Arts of Alsace and Lorraine (9 41 BY ALEXANDER WATT important exhibition of the arts of Alsace and Lorraine of ornate gospel-books embellished with precious stones, embossed is now being held at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. gold, and delicately carved ivory plaques. The illumination of X. This has been organised on the occasion of the tricentenary these gospel-books is of marked interest, for the style of decoration of the union of Alsace with France. Here one can admire many and the miniature painting of the School of Metz is closely tied of the sacred and priceless relics that are closely guarded in the to that of the School of Reims. cathedrals, museums, libraries, and private collections in Alsace and Other outstanding exhibits in this section relate to the Bishops Lorraine. Despite the similarity of character, alternating through­ of Toul. Here is the chalice and paten (reproduced here) of Saint out the centuries, of the arts of Alsace and Lorraine, it has, never­ Gauzelin, Bishop of Toul (922-962), which originates from the theless, been a complex task to organise a joint exhibition of this Abbey of Bouxieres-aux-Dames. The chalice is in gold, with scope and magnitude. filigree work. The paten is in silver overlaid with five centre lobes The seven hundred odd exhibits range from precious works of in gold. One of the finest of the gospel-books (reproduced here) art of the Vth century to ceramics of the late XVIIIth century. comes from the Abbey of Poussay, in the diocese of Toul. The The earliest objects on view date from the Merovingian period: binding is composed of a centre ivory plaque, of the Xth century, pie'ces of jewellery, ornaments, buckles and clasps, and armour around which are plaques in embossed gold representing Christ from regions in Alsace and Lorraine. Of special historic interest and three Saints. The manuscript was probably written and (Left) The Xth century Chalice and Paten of Saint Gauzelin, Arch­ bishop of Toul (922- 962), from the Abbey of Bouxieres - aux - Dames. The Chalice is in gold with filigree work. The Paten is in silver doubled in the centre with five filigreed lobes in gold. From the Collection of relics in the Cathedral of Nancy. (Right) Gospel - book from the Abbey of Poussay, in the diocese of Toul (Vosges). The binding is formed with a Xth century ivory plaque of the Virgin and Child, surrounded with figures in em­ bossed gold represent­ ing Christ, Saint An­ drew, Saint Peter and Saint Menne. (Saint Menne was one of the French martyrs who died and was buried near Poussay. His body Photo LOUCHET-Tourisme. was transferred to the Abbey in 1036.) illuminated, at Reichenau, during the last quarter of From the National the Xth century. Library, Paris. If Lorraine triumphs, in this exhibition, with religious objets d'art of the Carolingian period, we have Photo LOUCHET-Tourisme. to turn to Alsace for the finest works of art executed during the Middle Ages. At the Pavillon de Marsan is a helmet, of the VIIth century, discovered in a tomb at Balden­ architects have an opportunity of studying the original XIIIth, heim, on the Lower Rhine. In its form this is a distinctly Sassanian XIVth, and XVth century designs, on parchment, for the fa9ades prototype of helmet. The barbarian hordes that swept through and the famous spire of the Cathedral of Strasbourg. And sculptors, Europe from the East, and invaded Alsace and Lorraine, at the time at the same time, can admire some of the XIIIth century statues of 'the fall of the Roman Empire, were responsible for introducing that formerly adorned the north and west doors of the Cathedral. this element of Oriental art that we find also in the silver inlaid iron It was between 1225 and 1230 that a team of trained and ex­ buckles and clasps of which there are many fine examples exhibited perienced sculptors arrived from Chartres to found the Strasbourg at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs. atelier, which flourished without interruption until the beginning The Carolingian period is well represented in this exhibition of the XVIth century. About 1460 the influence of Burgundo­ for Lorraine was at the heart of the Empire of Charlemagne. Here, Flemish sculpture became evident in the cathedral statues. This for example, are several of the celebrated relics from the Cathedral was largely due to the work of Nicolas Gerhaert de Leyde, the of Metz: the bronze equestrian statuette of Charlemagne (now in Dutch artist who arrived and settled in Strasbourg (via Burgundy), the National Library in Paris) ; the finely preserved gold embroidered to become the city's leading sculptor, from 1462 to 1467. His purple cope, of striking Byzantine design, which, it is believed, was particular form of expression-a monumental realism tending worn by the Emperor himself, and which again attests to the towards a pronounced outward sentiment-was copied both by influence of Eastern art as introduced into Alsace and Lorraine the Cathedral sculptors and the wood carvers of the time, among during the invasions of the IVth and Vth centuries ; and a number whom the best known is Nicolas de Haguenau, who was responsible 57 APOLLO bourg came next on the list with two hundred. Other towns in France counted much less. Thus, Lille came third with sixty-seven. Strasbourg owed its vogue to the fact that the capital of Alsace, since its surrender to Louis XIV, profited by a political and customs statute which permitted it to employ a greater quantity of silver in its plate than in other cities in France. And so, the Strasbourg plate was greatly sought after by the nobility of France and Europe in general. After the Revolution the number of ateliers and quality of production diminished rapidly although one silversmith in particular, Jacques-Fnideric Kirstein, continued to produce plate, during the Empire and the Restoration, of an exceptional quality. A fine example of his work is on view at the PavilIon de Marsan : a silver-gilt tureen, with cover and dish, dated 1765 (reproduced here). Among the pewterers, Lorraine takes the lead with Fran~ois Briot, born in Montbeliard in 1550. One of his best-known products is his ewer and dish, Photo LOUCHET-Tourisme. called the Dish of Mars, which figures prominently Tureen, with lid and plate, in silver-gilt, decorated with chased roses in the present exhibition. and engraved with coat of arms. By Jacques-Frederic Kirstein. 1765. Finally, we come to the famous porcelain of Collection D. David-Weill. Strasbourg. In this last section of the exhibition there are several showcases containing numerous for the high-altar piece of the Cathedral (on view in this exhibition) examples of the work of Hannong and porcelain from the manu­ and the statues of the celebrated Issenheim altar-piece, in the factories of Niderviller, Luneville, Saint-Clement, and Les Islettes. Museum at Colmar. It was in 1751 that Paul Antoine Hannong (son of Charles Fran~ois The most important period in the history of painting in Alsace Hannong who thirty years earlier founded the first important was between the late XIVth century and Reformation. Thus, a porcelain manufactory at Strasbourg) succeeded, with the help of special place has been given to the XVth century Alsatian painters. experts and technicians from Saxe, in producing the first hard-paste Isenmann, whose work is of special interest on account of the porcelain in France. But, owing to the opposition of the privileged detailed painting of the costumes worn in Alsace at that time, is royal manufactory, he was obliged to transfer his business to represented with an imposing "Entombment of Christ." He was Frankenthal where he was patronised by the Palatinate Elector. a native of Colmar and was influenced by Conrad Witz and the After his death his son, Joseph Adam Hannong, met with similar Flemish masters. Witz played an important role in the history of difficulties vis-a-vis the royal Sevres manufactory which resulted Alsatian painting. He lived and worked at Bale (which, until 1501, in his having to close down his own private enterprise in 178r. belonged to Alsace) where he died in 1447. He was the first of Prior to this, in 1754, Baron Jean Louis de Beyerle, Director of the school of the Upper Rhine to paint in a realistic fashion, and the Royal Mint in Strasbourg, started a porcelain manufactory in there is no doubt that he and Isenmann influenced Nicolas Gerhaert Niderviller with the assistance of artists and technicians from de Leyde to give a like expression to his sculpture. Strasbourg. All went well until Baron Beyerle, like Hannong, met It is thought that Isenmann was the master of Schongauer, who with opposition from Sevres when he attempted to produce hard­ is represented here with several fine paintings and drawings. paste porcelain. He, too, was obliged to give up his promising Neithart, better known under the name of Grunewald, was, in turn, business and Niderviller was sold, in 1771, to Adam Philibert, the pupil of Schongauer. Although it has not been possible to Comte de Custine. bring to Paris his famous Issenheim altar-piece, there are ten paint­ ings and drawings on view at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs which clearly attest his masterly qualities. Then there is Hans Baldung Grien, whose work can be seen in this exhibition as well as in the collection from the Munich Pinakothek, now on view, in Paris, at the Petit Palais. Lorraine figures next with its celebrated artists of the XVIIth century, Jacques Callot, Claude Lorrain, and Georges de la Tour.