Lucien Felix Henry was born in 1850 in Provence, in the south of France. He arrived in Paris to study art in 1867 and was accepted into Gerome's studio at the Ecoles des Beaux Arts. His studies were disrupted by the Franco-Prussian War and the siege of Paris. He played a leading role in the popular movement to defend the Paris Commune in 1871 as Chef de la Legion, responsible for the defence of the 14th arrondissement. After their defeat, Henry, along with some 4000 other Communards, was incarcerated in the French penal colony of New Caledonia for seven years. In 1879 the Communards were given amnesty and Henry arrived in Sydney.
That year the International Exhibition was held in Sydney, ushering in a decade of prosperous growth for the colony. Henry successfully argued for state involvement in art education and by the end of the decade he had become a widely respected teacher and artist at Sydney Technical College. His Parisian art education had encouraged interdisciplinary work between the arts and industry which he sought to foster locally. His major project was to be a book entitled 'Australian Decorative Arts' for which he made some one hundred watercolour designs between 1889-91. He returned to Paris in 1891 to seek a publisher although the accompanying text remained largely unwritten, however the severe economic depression of the 1890s made publication of such a lavish work impossible. He died in France in 1896.
Inspired by the movement for federation, Henry designed a series of seven cameo plaques or medallions. Each represented one of the seven colonies (including New Zealand) that were contemplating federation. The cameos were to be made as decorative inlays in electroplated zinc for the elevator car at Anthony Hordern's Sydney store. Henry designed them in the form of plaster sculptures. Glass plate negatives of photographs taken by Henry of these sculptures exist in the museum's collection. The only one of known to still exist in metal is this New Zealand cameo, which was made into a lead panel.
The New Zealand panel consists of a square sheet of lead with a circular central medallion with the profile of a woman's head moulded in relief. Representing New Zealand, she wears an anchor earring. Her hair is decorated with three ears of wheat and a ram's horn, representing agriculture and sheep farming. In the background is a seascape with an erupting volcano and a boat. In raised letters the words 'New Zealand' are inscribed above her head.
Designed by Lucien Henry (1850-1896).
Inspired by the movement for federation, Henry designed a series of seven cameo plaques or medallions. Each represented one of the seven colonies (including New Zealand) that were contemplating federation. The cameos were to be made as decorative inlays in electroplated zinc for the elevator car at Anthony Hordern's Sydney store. Henry designed them in the form of plaster sculptures. Glass plate negatives of photographs taken by Henry of these sculptures exist in the Museum's collection. A8330 is the only one known to still exist in metal, which was made into a lead panel.
Henry was born in Provence in the south of fRance. In 1867 he arrived in Paris to study art and was accepted into Gerome's studio at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. His studies were disrupted by the Franco-Prussian War and the siege of Paris. Henry played a leading role in the popular movement to defend the Paris Commune in 1871 and, as Chef de Legion, was responsible for the defence of the 14th arrondissement. After their defeat, Henry, along with some 4000 other Communards, was imprisoned in the French penal colony of New Caledonia for seven years. In 1879, the Communards were given amnesty and Henry arrived in Sydney.
Henry took up a teaching position at Sydney Technical College. His major work was a proposed book entitled Australian Decorative Arts, for which he made some one hundred watercolour designs between 1889 and 1891. He returned to Paris to find a publisher however the 1890s depression made publication of such a lavish work impossible. Henry died in France in 1896.
Probably made by Lucien Henry (1850-1896). Henry was born in Provence in the south of France. In 1867, he arrived in Paris to study art at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. His studies were disrupted by the Franco-Prussian War and the siege of Paris. Henry played a leading role in the popular movement to defend the Paris Commune in 1871 and, as Chef de la Legion, was responsible for the defence of the 14th arrondissement. After their defeat, Henry, along with 4000 other Communards, was imprisoned in the French penal colony of New Caledonia for seven years. In 1879, the Communards were given amnesty and Henry arrived in Sydney.
Henry took up a teaching position at Sydney Technical College. His major work was a proposed book entitled, Australian Decorative ARts, for which he made some one hundred watercolour designs between 1889 and 1891. He returned to Paris to find a publisher however the 1890s depression made publication of such a lavish work impossible. Henry died in France in 1896.
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