Marcel Prud'homme (1877–1955) - Panorama Of Paris - Ink

Marcel Georges PRUD’HOMME
(Paris, 1877 – ?, 1955)

Panorama of Paris: View of the Institut and the Pont des Arts

Ink and wash on paper
Signed and dated lower right
18 x 26 cm unframed
May 1907

Born in Paris (2nd arrondissement) on January 16, 1877, Marcel Georges Prud’homme was the son of Henri Prud’homme, a hardware merchant, and Laure Louise Michon.
Initially trained at the preparatory studio of Jules Godefroy and Eugène Freynet, he continued his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts in Jean-Louis Pascal’s studio. After an initial attempt to gain admission in February 1896, he was admitted to the second class on July 31, 1896, earning, among other honors, a third medal in architectural history exercises. Promoted to the first class on March 5, 1901, he won a first medal for his submitted project and graduated on November 17, 1905 (71st graduating class) with a project titled A Ballroom.

An architect and urban planner based in Paris (6th arrondissement), he became the son-in-law and successor of Paul Langlois (1845–1914), an architect in Paris and architect for the City of Thiais—a position that Prud’homme subsequently took over.

His talents as a draftsman and watercolorist earned him several exhibitions at the Salon des Artistes Français:

·       1903 – Pompeii, travel sketches
· 1904 – Travel Memories (Northern Italy)
· 1907 – The Theater of Taormina
· 1911 – The Church of Chamigny (Seine-et-Marne)
· 1913 – Two watercolors: The Entrance to the Alyscamps, in Arles – The Flavian Bridge, in Saint-Chamas
· Other subjects: The ramparts of Aigues-Mortes; Place Saint-Michel in May 1906; Middelburg City Hall (Holland).

A member of the Society of Government-Certified Architects (S.A.D.G.) since 1906, he was still listed in the 1951 directory and became an honorary member in 1953. He taught at the École des Beaux-Arts as a professor and assistant studio director in the Expert studio.

In 1935, he was among the founding members and served as the first president of the “Ligne et Couleur” group, which brought together architects and artists around the practice of drawing and watercolor painting.

Recipient of the distinctions of Officer of the Order of the Academy and Officer of the Order of Public Instruction, Marcel Georges Prud’homme passed away in March 1955.

Sources:
National Archives of France, student file AJ/52/410 — Delaire, Architects Certified by the Government.