Albert Gilles | |
|---|---|
 Albert Gilles in 1950 | |
| Born | Albert Louis Gilles August 20, 1895 |
| Died | 1979 (aged 83–84) |
| Nationality | French |
| Known for | Coppersmith, Art, Religious artwork |
| Notable work | Depiction of the Life of Jesus Christ |
| Children | Palmyre Gilles |
| Website | https://www.albertgilles-copper-art.com/ |
Albert Louis Gilles (August 20, 1895 – 1979) was a French coppersmith known for his metalwork technique of shaping malleable metals. During his career as an artisan and designer, Gilles created public and private works for The Walt Disney Company, Chrysler, and General Motors. He is known for his later works depicting the life of Jesus Christ.[1]
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The Art Of Chasing And Repousse On Copper
Transcription
Life
Gilles was born in Paris, France on August 20, 1895. At age 12, his aunt introduced him to the Repoussé technique, which he practiced during evening art classes. Gilles injured his right hand during his service in World War I and rehabilitated it by milking cows at a farm in Normandy.
In 1927, Gilles immigrated to Quebec City, Canada. He moved to the United States two years later and settled in Detroit. There he founded the Albert Gilles Studio, later renamed Cuivres d'Art Albert Gilles, or the Albert Gilles Copper Art Studio.
In addition to his work in the studio, Gilles worked as a decorator, metal sculptor, and silversmith in Detroit, Hollywood, and Los Angeles.
He was commissioned to repair the gates at Havana's National Capitol before returning to Canada in 1937, where he settled permanently in Québec. There, Gilles went on to set up a shop in Cowansville and began creating religious artwork for churches, including the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. In 1953, Gilles moved his workshop to Château-Richer, where his studio still operates today as a boutique and museum under the name of the Albert Gilles Copper Art Museum run by the Gilles family since Gilles died in 1979.
Works
The American Years (1929-1957): Disney, Fox Film and Chrysler
Gilles was inspired by the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris in 1925. He worked for multiple clients, including automotive magnates Charles Fisher of the Fisher Body Company (later General Motors), Aaron Mendelsohn, and K.T. Keller of Chrysler.
In 1933, Gilles moved to California and started working for Hollywood actors and actresses, including Joan Bennett, Constance Bennett, Fredric March, and Mae West. He contributed to the decoration of various residences for Sol M. Wurtzel of the Fox Film Corporation, Walt Disney, and Roy Oliver Disney.
In 1957, Gilles created four doors weighing 1,000 pounds each in his Château-Richer workshop for the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles.
The Canadian Years (1937-1979): Religious Art and Murals
Gilles returned to Québec in 1937. He held an exhibition consisting of 50 panels depicting the life of Christ in 1941. The following year, he received a commission from Pope Pius XII to design and produce a Chalice and Paten for the mass celebrating Montreal's 300th anniversary. He also worked on the copper roof of the Château Frontenac and the doors of the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.
One of Gilles' most complex works is Christorama, a hand-embossed depiction of the life of Jesus Christ in 50 tableaux. The project began as a commission in the early 1930s by Aaron Mendelsohn of General Motors to honor Mendelsohn's late wife. However, Mendelsohn died three years into the project, with only 40 of the reliefs complete. In his spare time Gilles continued to work on Christorama, which would take 15 years to complete. The work remains on exhibition at Albert Gilles Copper Art & Museum.
Gilles created decorative elements for more than 30 churches across the Canadian provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, and Ontario. His decorative elements can also be found in the United States and Jamaica. His artwork is displayed in several chapels and numerous parish churches.
Gilles's work has been offered at auction multiple times, with realized prices ranging from 15 USD to 71 USD, depending on the size and medium of the artwork.[2] Since 2022 the highest price for Gilles at auction is 71 USD for Antique Lamp, sold at Champagne Auctions in 2022.[2]
References
- ^ ""ALBERT GILLES, Master in Metalwork"". Craft Horizons (Archive: 1941-1978). 10 (4): 11–16. 1 December 1950. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
{{cite journal}}:|first1=missing|last1=(help) - ^ a b "Albert Gilles". MutualArt. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
External links
- Château-Richer biography of Gilles
- Mutual Art Biography of Gilles
- Albert Gilles Copper Art Museum Quebec
- Names Correction Regard
This page was last edited on 9 April 2024, at 15:09