Gaston Bussière

Salammbô, painted by Gaston Bussière, 1907

Gaston Bussière was a French Symbolist painter and illustrator, born in Cuisery on April 24, 1862 and died at Saulieu on October 29, 1928.

Biography

Bussière studied at l'Académie des Beaux-Arts in Lyon before entering the école des beaux-arts de Paris where he studied under Alexandre Cabanel and Pierre Puvis de Chavannes. In 1884, he won the Marie Bashkirtseff prize.

He was close to Gustave Moreau. He found inspiration in the theatre works of Berlioz (La Damnation de Faust) as well as William Shakespeare and Wagner. He became in demand as an illustrator, creating works for major authors. He illustrated Honoré de Balzac's Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes published in 1897, Émaux et camées, written by Théophile Gautier,^[1] as well as Oscar Wilde's Salomé. He also illustrated several works by Flaubert.

An associate of Joséphin Péladan, the founder of the Rose-Croix esthétique, Bussière exhibited his works at Salon de la Rose-Croix over two years.^[2]

Many of his works are on exhibit at the Musée des Ursulines in Mâcon.

Gallery

• 

  Yseult the Blonde

• 

  Exotic Dancer

• 

  Nereids, 1902

• 

  Jeanne d'Arc

• 

  Two Children Crowned with Flowers

External links

• Inventory of paintings by Gaston Bussière on the French Ministry of Culture database Joconde
• A biography is available through the Burgundy museums Website

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gaston Bussiere.