Emile Munier Biography | Oil Paintings

Emile Munier received his artistic training while working at the Gobelins tapestry factory, where to design tapestry he needed to learn, drawing, painting, anatomy, and perspective. During the 1860s, Émile Munier received three medals at the Beaux-Arts, and in 1869 he had his first exhibit at the Paris Salon. He left the Gobelins in 1871 to become a full-time painter and also teacher. He became a great supporter of the Academic ideals and a follower of William Bouguereau, he liked Bouguereau's subject matter and the young Munier would paint in a similar style. The pair became close friends and Munier frequently visited Bouguereau's studio, and he would call him by the nickname "Le sage Munier".

In 1885 he again exhibited at the Paris Salon, the oil painting Trois Amis (Three Friends). The painting, featuring a chubby girl playing on her bed with her pets, was extremely popular and successful, being reproduced in many forms and used for publicity posters by Pears Soap.

During the 1890s Émile Munier continued to paint peasant, mythological and religious subjects; he also portrayed animals, scenes depicting fishing, landscapes, and seascapes. Many of his works featured his children as his models, particularly his daughter from his second marriage.

Art Movement: Academic Art, Realism.
Artists Influencing Émile Munier: William-Adolphe Bouguereau.
Painters Emile Munier Influenced: Sargine Augrand.
Artist Biography compiled by Albert L. Mansour at The World's Artist, with text adapted from Wikipedia.