BEAUVAIS, FRANCE.-Musée Départemental De L'Oise presents Félix Bracquemond and Decorative Arts, From japonism to Art nouveau, on view through February 13, 2006. The exhibition was curated by Josette Galiègue, Head Curator, Musée départemental de l'Oise in Beauvais Chantal Meslin-Perrier, Head Curator and Director, Musée national Adrien Dubouché in Limoges. Following the exhibitions of Szolnay in 2002, the Strobel collection and Agathon Léonar in 2003, the Musée départemental de l’Oise reiterates its attachment to the era of 1900 and the presentation of its various currants. This major retrospective, co-produced with the Réunion des Musées Nationaux, the Musée Adrien Dubouché from Limoges, the Musée national de la Porcelaine from Selb in Germany and in partnership with the Mobilier National, presents nearly 200 works - among them a great number shown for the first time - facing the artist’s preparatory drawings.

Félix Bracquemond -1833-1914 – the well-known painter and engraver, knew Manet, Degas, as well as Rodin or Chéret. What is less known is the fact that he played an essential role in the renewal of French decorative arts during the second half of the 19 th century. The first to discover the Japanese example, Bracquemond developed a theory of the ornament, and designed a «floral decoration» that placed him among the pioneers of international Art Nouveau.

His influence in ceramic creation was original and particularly remarkable as soon as the Manufacture of Creil-Montereau presented his «Rousseau» set at the Universal exhibit of 1867). From 1872 to 1881, he directed the Haviland research workshop in Paris. This was followed by the creations for the other decorative techniques: furniture, tapestry, embroidery, silver and gold work, glass, book binding, in particular for important commissions from baron Vitta or Gustave Geffroy, the director of the Manufacture des Gobelins as of 1908. This itinerary allowed Félix Bracquemond to reaffirm his eminent place in the field of decorative arts, as well as the modernity of his work throughout the second half of the 19th century.