Constantin Guys facts for kids
Constantin Guys (born Ernest-Adolphe Guys de Saint-Hélène, December 3, 1802 – December 13, 1892) was a French artist. He was known for his amazing watercolor paintings and drawings. Guys also worked as a war correspondent during the Crimean War. He drew pictures for British and French newspapers.
Life of Constantin Guys
Constantin Guys was born in Vlissingen, a city in the Netherlands, on December 3, 1802. His father, François Lazare Guys, worked for the French Navy. His family moved to Calais, France, when he was young.
When he was about 20 years old, Constantin joined the cavalry, which is a part of the army that rides horses. Later, he traveled to Greece with a famous poet named Lord Byron. Guys did not start his art career until he was around 40 years old.
A famous writer named Charles Baudelaire admired Guys's work very much. Baudelaire called him the "painter of modern life." He wrote a long essay praising Guys's art. Another writer, Robert de Montesquiou, also wrote about Guys. He said Guys was great at showing small details, especially in women's clothes and horse carriages. Guys often drew scenes from daily life during the Second French Empire in France.
Constantin Guys passed away in Paris when he was 90 years old, on December 13, 1892.
Artworks by Constantin Guys
Constantin Guys created many beautiful drawings and watercolors. Here are some of his well-known works:
- Les Champs Élysées, 1922, found at the Pavillon de Marsan du musée du Louvre.
- Promenade en carosse (Carriage Ride), around 1863. This piece uses pen, ink, and watercolor on beige paper. It is kept at the Museo Cantonale d'Arte in Lugano.
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Man on Horseback
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Meeting on the Promenade
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The Loge at the Opera
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Young Spanish Woman
See also
In Spanish: Constantin Guys para niños
