PUVIS DE CHAVANNES, pn'ves' de sha& van', PIERRE ( 1824-98 ) . The leading mural paint er of France in the nineteenth century. He was the creator of modern mural painting, which he restored to its real function, that of decoration. Born at Lyons, December 14, 1824, the son of a distinguished engineer, he took the classical course in a levee, and then studied in a techni cal school, preparatory to his father's profession. After deciding to become a painter he worked without profit under Henri Scheirer, Delacroix, and Couture, but studied to more effect the works of the early Florentines, especially those of Gi otto in Italy, being, therefore, in the main self taught. He first exhibited in the Salon of 1850, not 1859 as is commonly stated. His first deco rative works, and "Peace," exhibited in 1861, were received with disfavor by most critics, but met the approval of the more thoughtful, like Theophile Gautier. They were acquired by the Government for the :Museum of Amiens, in which his early decorations can best be studied, such as "Work and Rest" (1863); "Ave, l'icardia Ma trix" (1865) : "Ludus l'ro Patria" (1880) "Young Picard Exercising with the Lance" (1882). After the time of the Universal Expo sition of 1867, when he received the cross of the Legion of Honor (officer 1897. commander 1589), his position was secure. lie was constantly em ployed upon Salon juries and artistic commissions, and the greater part of his time was taken by great series of paintings for French public buildings. Among the principal of these are two fine repre sentations of Marseilles in ancient and modern times for the museum there; two historic scenes for the Hertel de Ville, Poitiers (1874-75) ; the "Infancy of Saint Genevieve" (1976-77), in the Pantheon at Paris—a beautiful idyllic scene; a series of splendid decorations for the museum of his native town, Lyons, among which are "Sacred Grove. Dear to the Arts and Muses" (1884), "An Antique Vision" and "Christian Inspiration" (1886). In 1889 he decorated the great hemicycle of the Sorbonne with an allegory of the noble pur poses of its foundation, entitled "Alma :Mater." Puvis de Chavannes was the moving spirit in the secession of the Societe Nationale des Beaux Arts from the Salon in 1890. and in the follow ing year he succeeded Meissonier in the presi dency, which he retained till his death. All his
later works are remarkable for the tasteful use of modern costume in ideal representation. Ms decorations in the H(tel de Ville. Paris, include "Honnnage ii Victor Hugo" (1894), in which the poet is represented as dedicating his lyre to the city. and two fine landscapes, "Summer" and "Winter." In 1896 he completed his decorations of the Boston Public Library, "The :Muses Salut ing the Spirit of Enlightenment" and eight fine panels of the "Arts" and "Sciences." his last monumental work was three other large paintings of the life of Saint Genevieve in the Pantheon. The last years of his life passed in quiet at Neuilly, but were saddened iv the illness of his wife, the Princess Cantaeuzene. and soon after her death the painter himself died, October 24, 1899. His large collection of admirable draw ings and careful studies was left by his nephews to the Luxembourg Museum, the City of Paris. and the provincial museums possessing his works. Besides his monumental productions he painted a number of smaller works of which it is sufficient to mention "Girls on the Seashore" (1879) ; the "Poor Fisherman" (Luxembourg, 1881) ; "Le Doux Pays," which received the medal of honor in 1882. Of his portraits the most interesting are those of himself at twenty-five and of his wife, exhibited in 1891.
PUY, pn-e', LE. The capital of the Depart ment of Baute-Loire, France, 37 miles south west of Saint-Etienne, at the junction of the Loire, Borne. and Dolezon valleys (Map: Franca, K 6). It is picturesquely situated on the steep southern slopes of Mont Anis, from the summit of which rises precipitously the huge basaltic mass called Rocher de Corneille, crowned by the colossal statue of Notre Dame de France, 52 feet high, on a pedestal 20 feet in height, made in 1860 from 213 Russian cannon captured at Se bastopol. The most notable building of Le Puy is the cathedral. situated in the highest part of the town and reached by a grand stairway of 36 steps. Other notable features are the pre fecture, the palais de justice, the C'rozatier Mu seum with a fine art collection. and the monu mental Crozatier Fountain. Guipure and other lace, bells, and clocks are manufactured. Le Pny is the ancient Podium. It was the capital of the inedia.val District of Velay. Population. in 1901, 20,507.