Henri Bellechose facts for kids
Henri Bellechose was an important painter from the South Netherlands. He was active around 1415 and died before January 1445. Bellechose was one of the first major artists in Northern Europe to paint on wooden panels. He is considered an early artist of what is known as Early Netherlandish painting.
Early Life of Henri Bellechose
Henri Bellechose came from the South Netherlands. He moved to Dijon, a city in France, to work for the powerful Dukes of Burgundy. He became the court painter for John the Fearless, who was the Duke of Burgundy at the time. Bellechose also held a special court position called "valet de chambre". Other famous artists like Jean Malouel and Jan van Eyck also held this role. We don't know much about Bellechose's life before he became a court painter. Some art experts think he might have worked as an assistant to Jean Malouel.
His Art and Studio
Most of Henri Bellechose's known work was created for the Dukes of Burgundy. He also painted for some churches in Dijon. The Dukes kept very detailed records, so we know he made many artworks. However, only a few of his paintings have survived until today.
His most famous painting is Martyrdom of Saint Denis. You can see it in the Louvre museum in Paris. The Duke commissioned this painting for the Chartreuse of Champmol. This was a special burial place founded by Philip the Bold, an earlier Duke. Art historians have discussed whether Jean Malouel started this painting and Bellechose finished it. However, the Louvre museum does not mention Malouel's involvement.
When John the Fearless died in 1420, his son Philip the Good became the new Duke. Philip the Good kept Bellechose as his court painter. Many of Bellechose's jobs for the Duke were decorative. This included painting coats of arms for funerals, which was common for court artists. He also received commissions for two altarpieces in 1425 and 1429, but these do not seem to have survived. Being a court painter did not stop him from taking on other painting jobs.
Bellechose had a large art studio. At its busiest, he had eight assistants and two apprentices working with him.
Personal Life
Around 1424, Henri Bellechose married a woman named Alixant Lebon. Her father was a notary, which is a person who helps with legal documents.
Later Years
In August 1429, Henri Bellechose received his last payment from the Duke. His name then disappears from the Duke's financial records. His salary had been cut by two-thirds since 1426. This was because Philip the Good started spending more time in the Netherlands. There, he hired another very talented painter named Jan van Eyck. We know that Bellechose was still alive in 1440, but he was no longer in Dijon. By January 1445, he had passed away.
See also
In Spanish: Henri Bellechose para niños
