L’Énigme

Henri Jules Ferdinand Bellery-Desfontaines, a multifaceted French artist, was born in Paris on March 20, 1867, and passed away on October 7, 1909, in Les Petites Dalles. His career spanned various disciplines, including painting, illustration, engraving, lithography, poster design, typeface creation, architecture, and decoration, marking him as a significant figure in the Art Nouveau movement. The son of Octave Ferdinand Bellery-Desfontaines and Julie Pauline Hautefeuille, Henri's artistic journey began in earnest when he was admitted to the École des beaux-arts de Paris in 1890, studying under Jean-Paul Laurens and Luc-Olivier Merson, and graduating in 1895. His early work included contributing to the decoration of the internes' guard room at the Hôpital de la Charité and studying under William Bouguereau at the Académie Julian. Bellery-Desfontaines's artistic output was remarkably diverse. He illustrated for prestigious art journals such as L'Artiste and L'Estampe moderne, and designed tapestries, furniture, and decorations. His collaboration with Antoine Jorrand in 1895 to restore the neo-Gothic Château du Fôt showcased his architectural skills, adhering to Viollet-le-Duc's principles. From 1896 until his death, he worked with Éditions d'Art Édouard Pelletan, illustrating numerous books. His designs for banknotes for French colonial banks, including the Banque de l'Indochine, were ahead of their time, foreshadowing the modernist trends of the 1920s and 1930s. Additionally, he created the Bellery typefaces, further cementing his legacy in the arts. His achievements were recognized with a silver medal at the 1900 Exposition Universelle, highlighting his contributions to French art and design.