Once, this was part of the Champ-de-Mars. Now, we stand on Rue Jean Carries. This street in the 7th arrondissement of Paris bears the name of a remarkable artist. It’s a tribute to Jean-Joseph Carriès.
Who was Jean-Joseph Carriès? He was a sculptor and ceramist. Carriès was born in Lyon in 1855. Sadly, he died young in Paris in 1894. Despite his short life, he left a lasting impact on the art world.
Carriès’s parents died of tuberculosis when he was just six. He and his siblings lived at a Lyon orphanage. There, his artistic talent caught the eye of the Mother Superior. She arranged an apprenticeship for him with sculptor Pierre Vermare.
After Vermare, Carriès enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon. In 1874, he moved to Paris. He created portrait busts of religious figures and famous artists. Critics praised his work. They loved its perfect execution and realism.
From 1877 to 1878, Carriès served in the military. Even there, he practiced his art. He filled official commissions for commemorative medallions. He even made plaster busts of commanding officers.
Returning to Paris in 1878, he continued sculpting. In 1879, he saw Oriental exhibits at the Exposition Universelle. Japanese ceramics particularly impressed him. Living in Montparnasse, he befriended Paul Jeanneney. Jeanneney was a collector who owned Japanese ceramics. Together, they shared ideas about creating Japonist stoneware.
In 1888, Carriès moved to Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye. This area had many factories producing pottery. It gave Carriès a workforce and sources of knowledge. In 1889, he exhibited his stoneware in Paris. People hailed him for his organic forms and glazes.
Princess Scey-Montbéliard commissioned him in 1890. She wanted a stoneware portal for her house on Avenue Henri Martin. Eugène Grasset designed it. It represented the story of Parsifal. This was from Richard Wagner’s opera.
Carriès exhibited stoneware at the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts in 1892. He used many shapes, glazes, and techniques. He sculpted all the forms himself before molding them. The Ministry of Public Instruction and Fine Arts bought a dozen pieces. They placed them in the Musée du Luxembourg and the Musée de Sèvres.
Tragically, Carriès died two years later. He was only 39. He couldn’t complete the Parsifal portal. Art critic Gabriel Mourey called him a man of remarkable talent. He had a rare gift of imagination.
Rue Jean Carries itself has a history. It was opened on land that was once part of the Champ-de-Mars. The demolition of the Galerie des Machines in 1909 allowed for the construction of buildings here. After World War I, stone buildings were constructed.
Notice the building at the corner of Avenue Émile-Acollas. Architect Michel Bridet built it in 1929. You can see his signature on the facade facing the avenue.
So, as we stand on Rue Jean Carries, remember the artist. Remember his talent and his influence. Remember the history beneath our feet. This street is a testament to art, history, and the enduring spirit of Paris.