Traviès

1804 - 1859

Essentials

  • Top-ranked work: Le Café des Aveugles, at Palais-Royal
  • Top 3 works: Le Café des Aveugles, at Palais-Royal
  • Museums on this site: Carnavalet Museum
  • Copyright status: Public domain
  • Lifespan: 55 years
  • Born: 1804, Wülflingen, Switzerland

The Life and Versatility of Traviès

Born in Wülflingen, Switzerland, the artist known as Traviès was a Swiss-born French painter, lithographer, and caricaturist. After studying art in Strasbourg and later at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris under François Joseph Heim, he established a diverse career. His professional output included portraits, genre paintings, and designs for printed fabrics and wallpaper. He became a prolific contributor to satirical magazines such as La Caricature and Le Charivari, where his work often focused on French customs, culture, and the Parisian poor.

Throughout his career, Traviès engaged with various social and political themes. He was involved in early socialist movements, including Saint-Simonianism and the ideas of Simon Ganneau. His later years were marked by a shift toward religious themes, culminating in the completion of the oil painting Christ et la Samaritaine, which was exhibited at the Salon of 1853 and purchased by the French government.

Notable Works and Artistic Contributions

Traviès is recognized for several significant works and series, including:

His artistic legacy includes the Galerie des Illustrations Scientifiques, a series of portraits of French doctors and scientists. While much of his work was produced through lithography and caricature, his religious oil painting Christ et la Samaritaine remains a notable example of his formal painting style.

Questions & Answers

Can I visit a virtual museum of Traviès's works?

The 3D Museum of Traviès is a page that displays the artist's artworks in a virtual three-dimensional gallery.

Where are Traviès's artworks grouped by palette?

Traviès's works can be browsed by color palette on the artist's By Palettes page.

Can I explore Traviès's works by keyword?

Traviès's works can be explored by keyword on the artist's By Keywords page. Each keyword groups the related artworks.

Where can I see Traviès's artworks arranged by atmosphere?

Traviès's works can be browsed by mood on the artist's Mood Room page, which arranges the artworks by their recorded moods.

Test your eye

There is only one correct answer for each question.

Question 1:
In which city was Traviès born?
Question 2:
Which character, created by Traviès, represented the faults of the bourgeoisie?
Question 3:
Which famous writer wrote about Traviès, calling him the 'prince of the unfortunate'?
Question 4:
What was the subject of the religious painting Traviès completed after 14 years of work?
Question 5:
Which satirical magazines did Traviès contribute to?