Alon Zakaim Fine Art

Paul-Paul-César Helleu was born in Vannes in Brittany in 1859. As a young man he moved to Paris and began his career working for the ceramic artist Theodoré Deck. After enrolling at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts Helleu received formal training under the academic painter Jean Leon Gerome. During his training he met John Singer Sargent in 1878 and they became the greatest of friends. At this early stage in their careers, Sargent was receiving commissions and beginning to make a name for himself but Helleu had not sold anything at all. When Sargent heard how discouraged Helleu was becoming, he visited him and picked one of his paintings, praising his technique. Flattered by Sargent’s praise Helleu offered the painting to him as a present, but Sargent refused to accept the gift and instead paid Helleu for the piece and became the first buyer of his work.

In 1876 Helleu and Sargent visited the Second Impressionist Exhibition which was to have a profound effect on their artistic careers. Helleu was greatly impressed by this new group of artists and soon became friends with Monet, Whistler and Tissot. He was accepted by the group as an impressionist though declined to exhibit with them in 1886 on the advice of Monet.

In the 1880s, Helleu developed a reputation for painting and etching fine portraits and he began to receive many high profile commissions. His subjects were the sophisticated ladies of the belle époque era - the society described in the novels of Marcel Proust. In 1885, Tissot, the former master of the Belle Époque recognized Helleu's talent in drawing and persuaded him to begin making drypoints. Thus Helleu began to produce the prints of society portraits, of elegant ladies in superb hats and the intimate portraits of his own family and friends for which he is so well remembered.

In 1884, Helleu was commissioned to paint a portrait of a young woman named Alice Guerin. They fell in love, and married two years later (July 28 1886). She was undoubtedly his favourite model. Charming, refined and graceful she helped introduce them to the aristocratic circles of Paris and during the early 1890s they became popular figures in the aristocratic circles of Paris.

Helleu was awarded the Légion d'honneur in 1904, and became one of the most celebrated artists of the Edwardian era in both Paris and London and an honorary member of the most important beaux-arts societies. He was a member of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Engravers and the Societaire de la Nationale des Beaux-Arts.

By 1920 Helleu discovered that the Belle Epoque was over and that women no longer wished to be seen in their feminine elegance. He felt out of touch and retired to his family life and died in Paris in 1927. Helleu is remembered for his stunning paintings, prints and etchings that epitomise the charm and elegance of France at the turn of the century. Neither before nor since has anyone matched the virtuosity of his technique of capturing the grace and beauty of his sitters.

We do not currently have items for this particular artist, please contact us regarding acquisition.

Back to the top of the page »