Josette Hébert-Coëffin facts for kids

Josette Hébert-Coëffin (born December 16, 1906, in Rouen, France – died June 3, 1973, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France) was a talented French artist. She was famous for making sculptures and medals. In 1937, she received a special award called a Guggenheim Fellowship for her amazing work.

Josette Hébert-Coëffin's Early Life and Training

Josette Hébert-Coëffin was born in Rouen, France. She showed artistic talent from a young age. When she was just 16, in 1922, she won first prize in sculpture and architecture. This was at the École supérieure d'art et design Le Havre-Rouen.

Later, she moved to Paris to continue her studies. She learned from famous artists like Robert Wlérick and Charles Despiau. She also trained with Richard Dufour and worked in Alphonse Guilloux's studio.

Josette Hébert-Coëffin's Artistic Career

Josette Hébert-Coëffin started showing her art in 1927. She displayed two sculptures, named Beethoven and Resignation, at a big art show called the Salon des artistes francais.

In 1937, she received a special award, the Guggenheim Fellowship. This award helped her create models for the manufacture nationale de Sèvres, a famous French porcelain factory. That same year, she won gold medals at the 1937 World's Fair and another art society.

The next year, she became a member of the académie des sciences, belles-lettres et arts de Rouen. She was only the third woman to join this important group. In 1939, she showed her art at the Salon des Arts Décoratifs.

Working with Maurice Gensoli

Between 1938 and 1947, Josette worked with Maurice Gensoli. Sadly, many of her artworks were destroyed during World War II. This happened when the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres was bombed in 1942.

After this, she started using a new material called chamotte. This is a type of stoneware that was perfect for showing details like goat hair or bird feathers. She often found ideas for her art from animals. For example, in 1948, she made a painting called La Biche et son faon (The Doe and Her Fawn) for President Vincent Auriol. In 1950, she illustrated a book about cats.

Becoming a Medallist

Josette Hébert-Coëffin also spent time at the Monnaie de Paris, which is where coins and medals are made. She learned how to become a medallist. During her career, she created almost 300 medals!

She made a medal for René Coty, who was a president of France. She was the first woman in a very long time to be asked to create a medal for a head of state. She also made a medal for Charles de Gaulle. In 1968, she gave de Gaulle a medal to celebrate the 1968 Winter Olympics. This medal was later given to the French national team.

The famous writer Jean Cocteau even asked her to make his medal. He was very impressed by her drawings of cats.

Josette Hébert-Coëffin's Personal Life

Josette Hébert-Coëffin was married to Charles Coëffin, who was a businessman and pilot. She passed away on June 3, 1973, in Paris. She is buried next to her husband in the Saint-Germain Cemetery in Pont-Audemer. Her last unfinished sculpture, a grand-duc (a type of owl), is near her grave.

Notable Works by Josette Hébert-Coëffin

Josette Hébert-Coëffin created many different types of art. Here are some of her well-known pieces:

Sculptures

• Jean Tambareau, a bust made of bronze.
• Henri Gadeau de Kerville (1936), a bronze bust displayed in the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen.
• Coupe aux Boeufs de Hongrie (1940), a bronze sculpture.
• Virgin and Child, known as Madonna statuette, found in Sainte-Foy Church, Lacalm.
• Bas-relief (1947) at the Hôtel des Postes in Rouen.
• The doe and her fawn (1948).
• Our Lady of Prudence (1958), a statue located near the route nationale 13 in Pacy-sur-Eure.
• Saint Vincent de Paul, a bas-relief at Collégiale Notre-Dame d'Écouis.
• Monument to Tristan Bernard in Paris.
• Bust of Tristan Bernard at the Comédie-Française.
• René Tamarelle, a bronze medallion in Bihorel.
• William the Conqueror stele in Saint-Valery-sur-Somme.
• Commemorative plaque of the Mora (1966) in Barfleur.
• Plaque du Général Giraud (1954) in Barentin.
• Monument in bronze for Jean Baptiste Perrin in the Jardin des Champs-Élysées, Paris.
• Bust of Louis Ricard at the Court of Appeals in Rouen.
• Stele and bronze portrait of Charles de Gaulle in Place du Général-de-Gaulle.
• Bust of Etienne Louis Malus, a plaster sculpture at the Museum of the École polytechnique.

Medals

• The Pont Saint-Jean (Bordeaux) (1965), made of bronze.
• French Republic. Ministère du travail. Caisse nationale de prévoyance (1975), made of bronze.
• Sud-Ouest, made of bronze.
• Marie Curie (1867–1934) (1967), a bronze medal at the Monnaie de Paris.
• 1968 Winter Olympics, Grenoble (1968), made of bronze.
• Joan of Arc (1431–1456) (1971), a bronze medal at the Monnaie de Paris.
• Philippe Boiry (1927–2014) (1965).
• Dean Denis Leroy (1973) for Rennes.
• Memorial of the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp liberation.

Paintings

• Napoleon III : study for the allegory of France, a charcoal drawing at the Musée Hébert.
• Ophelia with Cornflowers, a painting also at the Musée Hébert.

Exhibitions of Josette Hébert-Coëffin's Art

Josette Hébert-Coëffin's art was shown in many places around the world.

Exhibitions in France

Bust of Tristan-Bernard, place Tristan-Bernard in Paris

• 1927: Salon des artistes français – She showed her busts Beethoven and Resignation.
• 1927-1939: Salon des artistes rouennais.
• 1931: Salon des artistes français – She displayed a bronze sculpture.
• 1933: Salon d'automne.
• 1935: Salon des Indépendants – One of her works was bought by the General Council of the Seine.
• 1936: Salon des Indépendants – A sparrow sculpture she made was stolen during the show.
• 1936: Salon des arts ménagers – She showed Le Toucan.
• 1936: Salon d’automne – She displayed Oiseaux (Birds).
• 1936: Exposition des Seize, Rouen – She showed an aviation monument.
• 1938: Galerie L’Équipe – She participated in an Abstract and Non-Objective Art exhibition.
• 1938: Petit Palais – She was part of the 33rd Group of Artist de ce temps.
• 1938-1953: Salon des Tuileries.
• 1940: Salon d'automne.
• 1962: Musée Carnavalet – Her Medal of the SS France (1960) was shown.
• She also had an exhibition at the Château de Rambouillet.

International Exhibitions

• 1957: Kunsthistorisches Museum in Austria – Her work was part of a Modern French Medallists exhibition.
• Her Vase decorated with ram's head was displayed at the Ambassade de France au Brésil in Brazil.
• She exhibited at the Villa Médicis in Italy.
• 2006 (after her death): British Museum in the United Kingdom – Her Médaille des 1968 Winter Olympics Grenoble was shown.
• 2019 (after her death): The Sladmore Gallery in the United Kingdom – Her sculptures were part of the "Les Animaliers 1900–1950" exhibition.
• 1939: Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in the United States – Her oil on paper works, No. 7 and No. 8, were part of the Non-Objective Painting Collection.
• 1940: Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in the United States – She was featured in "Ten American Non-Objective Painters".
• 1951: National Gallery of Art in the United States – Her Medal Jean Cocteau was displayed.

Awards and Honors

Josette Hébert-Coëffin received many awards for her artistic achievements:

• 1934: Bouctot Prize for fine arts from the Académie des sciences, belles-lettres et arts de Rouen.
• 1936: Silver Plaquette from the Société d'encouragement à l'art et à l'industrie.
• 1937: Gold medal at the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne.
• 1937: Guggenheim Fellowship, a very prestigious award.
• 1938: She became a member of the Académie des sciences, belles-lettres et arts de Rouen.
• She was an Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour.
• She was a Knight of the National Order of Merit.
• She was a Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
• She was a Knight of the Order of Cultural Merit (Monaco).