“Ever wonder about the story behind this street’s name?” We are standing on Rue Jules Lefebvre in Paris. It is a tribute to the French painter Jules Lefebvre. He was born in 1836. He died in 1911.
Jules Lefebvre was not just any painter. He combined modern techniques with traditional knowledge. He recorded physical reality. He also understood the techniques of European masters. Lefebvre excelled at painting portraits. He also painted female nudes.
Lefebvre studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in the 1850s. In 1861, he won the Prix de Rome. This scholarship allowed him to study at the French Academy in Rome. In Rome, he was influenced by Andrea del Sarto. Del Sarto was an Italian Renaissance painter.
One of Lefebvre’s early masterpieces was Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi. Later, he focused on portraits and nudes. His famous nudes include Reclining Woman and Truth. Many aspiring artists imitated Lefebvre. Collectors in the United States particularly prized his work. They appreciated its simplicity.
From the 1870s, Lefebvre taught art at the Académie Julian in Paris. He received many honors. In 1898, he was admitted to the French Legion of Honor.
Interestingly, Rue Jules Lefebvre has an earlier name. Before 1919, it was called Rue de la Séquanaise. This was the name of a company. It is rare for a public street to be named after a private company.
The street we are standing on was built in 1912. It housed the headquarters of La Séquanaise. This was an insurance company. The building at 4 Rue Jules Lefebvre is remarkable. The architect Charles Lefebvre designed it. He also designed Le Claridge and the Hôtel Plaza-Athénée.
Today, AXA Corporate Solutions occupies the building. The company has respected the building’s heritage. Inside the hall, there is a stunning Art Nouveau glass roof. It filters the light beautifully.
So, as we stand here on Rue Jules Lefebvre, remember the painter. Remember the street’s interesting past. Remember the Art Nouveau treasure within the building.