Theophile-Narcisse Chauvel

French 1831-1909

Revered for his landscapes, Theophile-Narcisse Chauvel is remembered as one of the most important pioneers of the French etching revival. Chauvel studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in 1854 and by 1855 he was exhibiting his paintings at the Paris Salon. By1859, however, Chauvel had devoted himself almost exclusively to printmaking. For the next four decades, these original prints were periodically exhibited at the Salon.

As well as his own work, Chauvel’s great skill as an etcher was utilised by many other famed artists of the day. Chauvel etched plates for such contemporaries as Jean-Baptiste Corot, Theodore Rousseau, Jean-Francois Millet, Narcisse Diaz de la Pena and John Everett Mills.

During his career, Chavel was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Medaille d’Honnour in 1881 and the Grand Prix du Rome in 1889 and 1900. In 1896, he was made an officer of the French Legion of Honour.

Theophile-Narcisse Chauvel’s work can be found in collections throughout Europe, including the Musee de’ Evreax, France, the University of Liege Art Collection, Belgium, and Ferens Art Gallery, Kingston-upon-Hull, England. In North America his work hangs in the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and the National Gallery of Art, Washington.