Henry Nocq (1869-1942) - Paris, Place Maubert

Henry Nocq (1869-1942)
Paris, Place Maubert
Gouache
23.5 x 11.5 cm at sight
40.5 x 27 cm framed
Signed and titled lower right

Henry Nocq, born Marie Eugène Henri Auguste Nocq on January 13, 1869 in Saint-Mandé and died in Paris (16th arrondissement) on February 15, 1942, is a French sculptor, medalist and goldsmith. He created many remarkable pieces of jewelry. Henry Nocq was born on January 13, 1869 at no. 1 bis avenue Sainte Marie in Saint-Mandé. His father is a railroad employee. Student of Henri Chapu (1833-1891), he is a sculptor, engraver, medalist, but also a painter and a watercolorist. Grand Prix de Rome, member of the Society of French Artists, from 1887, he regularly participated in the Salon of French Artists where he received an honorable mention in 1889. He was honored with a silver medal at the Universal Exhibition of 1900 A multidisciplinary artist, he participated in questioning the hierarchy between major and minor arts by joining in 1896 the group of artists “Les Cinq”, with Félix Albert Anthyme Aubert, Alexandre Charpentier, Charles Plumet, and François-Rupert Carabin, which became L'Art dans Tout in 1898. Close to André Marty, he was hired as editorial secretary at the Journal des artistes in 1894. He wrote several works devoted to goldsmithing, including Le Poinçon de Paris published in five volumes from 1926 to 1931, where he lists Parisian goldsmiths and their hallmarks. This book continues to be a reference. He was promoted to Academy officer in 1899 and then named Knight of the Legion of Honor by decree of January 13, 1907. He joined the Historical Society of the 6th arrondissement in 1900 and was appointed assistant secretary. The Academy of Fine Arts awarded him the Thorlet Prize in 1935. André Michel wrote of him: “All his medals have a singular penetration in the notation of individual resemblance and a very picturesque taste in the presentation. You will find there […] the proofs of great technical skill and a pretty flamboyant verve”