Laurent de Brunhoff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Laurent de Brunhoff
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Laurent de Brunhoff at the 2008 Texas Book Festival
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| Born | 30 August 1925 Paris, France |
| Died | 22 March 2024 (aged 98) Key West, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Nationality | French |
| Citizenship | American |
| Education | Académie de la Grande Chaumière |
| Genre | Children's literature |
| Notable works | Babar the Elephant |
| Spouse | Phyllis Rose |
| Children | Anne de Brunhoff, Antoine de Brunhoff |
| Relatives | Jean de Brunhoff (father) Cecile de Brunhoff (mother) |
Laurent de Brunhoff (born August 30, 1925 – died March 22, 2024) was a French artist and writer. He is most famous for continuing the beloved Babar the Elephant series of children's books. His father, Jean de Brunhoff, first created these stories.
Contents
The Start of Babar
Laurent de Brunhoff was born in Paris, France. The idea for Babar the Elephant began as a bedtime story. Laurent's mother, Cécile de Brunhoff, made up the story for her young sons, Laurent and Mathieu, in 1930. Laurent was five years old at the time.
The boys loved the little elephant's adventures so much. They asked their father, Jean, who was an artist, to draw pictures of the elephant world. Their father did, and soon he created a book called L'Histoire de Babar: le petit éléphant (The Story of Babar). This book was published by a family company. Jean de Brunhoff wrote five more Babar books before he passed away.
Laurent's Artistic Journey
Laurent inherited his father's talent for art. After World War II, he studied art at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. He wanted to keep his connection to his father's imaginative world. So, he decided to learn how to draw in his father's unique style.
Laurent even helped his father with some of his last Babar drawings. He added color to pages his father had left in black and white. This was like a special art project they shared across generations. Laurent's very first Babar book, Babar et ce coquin d’Arthur (Babar’s Cousin, That Rascal Arthur), came out in 1946. Laurent was 21 years old then.
Over the years, Laurent de Brunhoff wrote and illustrated more than 45 new Babar books! He also created other children's characters, like Bonhomme and Serafina.
Life in the United States
Laurent de Brunhoff married Marie-Claude Bloch in 1951. They had two children, Anne and Antoine. Later, in 1985, Laurent moved to the United States. He lived in Middletown, Connecticut, with writer and professor Phyllis Rose. They got married in 1990. They lived in New York and Key West, Florida.
Laurent de Brunhoff passed away in Key West on March 22, 2024, at the age of 98.
Awards and Recognition
Laurent de Brunhoff was a citizen of both France and the United States. France honored him with important awards. He was made an Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He also became a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur. These awards recognize his contributions to art and culture.
Exhibitions of Babar's World
Many museums have shown the original drawings and works of both Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff. These exhibitions have taken place around the world.
- In 1981, there was a big show in Paris.
- From 1983-1984, exhibitions traveled across the United States.
- Japan hosted a show in 1987.
- From 1989-1990, shows were held in New York and Toronto.
In 2008, the Morgan Library and Museum in New York had a major exhibition. It featured original drawings and writings by both father and son. This show celebrated a special gift to the museum. Laurent and his brothers gave the museum the original manuscript of Jean's first Babar book. Laurent also gave the manuscript of his own first Babar book.
Smaller shows have been held at many other museums across the United States. These include the Art Institute of Chicago and the Dixon Gallery in Memphis. The work of Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff has also been featured in several books.
