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Author: Scott_Burkett, Contributing Editor
 | Image: Antoine Guillemet, from Grun's 1913 Fin de Souper. In this particular piece, he is shown chatting with Grun's wife, Juliette Toutain-Grun, after dinner. |
| In the excerpt below, taken from a French periodical toward the end of his career, Grun recalls his experiences and tutelage under Guillemet (translated from the original French): One day (it was in 1887 and I had already a workshop), one of my friends came to see me. He was dressed nicely, wearing a top hat and gloves. "Are you going to a wedding?", I asked him. "No", he answered with pride, "I am going to see a member of the Jury!" "Lucky devil! That you know a member of the Jury!", I exclaimed (even though I had already exhibited there twice, without knowing anybody). Do you want to come with me?", my friend asked. "Oui! But I do not have a top hat!", I replied. "That is alright, come all the same.", he stated. We went straight to Guillemet's house on Clauzel Street (Paris). Guillemet, a great strapping fellow received us in his workshop. He looked up and questioned me: "Are you making a painting, young man? You'll have to bring it to me so that I may see it." "Yes", I said to him, "but it is two meters in height!", I exclaimed. Guillemet wanted to see it anyway. A few days later it arrived, and he admired my work greatly. Swimming in the bliss, I sent my landscape to the Salon, but I did not win. I returned to see Guillemet in the following year, and he consulted with me. I became his pupil and it is to him that I owe it all. |
 | Grun's "Self-Portraits" While there are very few photographs of Grun available, Grun did paint himself as a subject (along with many of his contemporaries and associates) in his oil work entitled un Vendredi au Salon Artistes Francais (One Friday with the Salon of the French Artists). The complete painting and description of subjects can be viewed under the "Grun Paintings" exhibit, however, here is an enlargement of the area of the painting showing an obscured Grun and his wife, Madamoiselle Juliette Touttain-Grun. According to historians in France, Grun often kept to himself, which would explain the obscurance of his own image in this painting. Image: Enlargement of a section of un Vendredi au Salon Artistes Francais, 1911 |
 | Grun also appeared as his own subject in arguably his most popular work, Fin de Souper, or After Dinner (also referred to as the "Dinner Party"). Again, you can view the entire work in the the "Grun Paintings" exhibit, however, here is an enlargement of the area of the painting showing an obscured Grun hiding behind, believe it or not, Jules Cheret! Image: Enlargement of a section of Fin de Souper, 1913 |
 | Analysis: un Vendredi au Salon des Artistes Francais In 1911, Grun painted his signature piece, un Vendredi au Salon des Artistes Francais (shown to the left). This painting, measuring twenty (20) square meters, was Grun's most ambitious piece. In it, he portrays the members of the Salon and high society attending a gala at the Salon. To view a super-high resolution version of this image, click here. To view a detailed analysis, using java, click here!. |
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