Theodore Earl Butler

Theodore Earl Butler, an American impressionist painter (1861-1936) was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1861 and died in Giverny, France in 1936. Courtland Philip Livingston Butler, Theodore Earl Butler’s father is George W.Bush ’paternal -great-great grandfather. Theodore studied at Marietta College in Ohio and graduated in 1882. He studied at the Art Students League with Kenyon Cox and J Alden Weir, under William Merritt Chase from 1884 to 1886. One of Butler’s first paintings is a copy of Menippus by the painter Velasquez(1639-1641) “Standing Bearded Man”, 1885. Butler then moved to study in Paris.

American students who came to France graduated not only from The National Academy of Design, the Art Student League but also the Cowles Art School and the Chicago Academy of Design. The most dedicated attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. The students had to pass an intensive examination in French Barbara Weiberg revealed that over 2000 American artists born around 1880 studied in Paris. Most of them received their inspiration from Bastien Lepage, Puvis de Chavannes, Jean Leon Gerome,William-Adolph Bouguereau , Alexandre Cabanel and Diego Velasquez. Carolus Duran was a close friend of Claude Monet.” When you can paint and draw the human figure” said Mr. Carolus Duran you can do everything else ”

Carolus opened an art studio in 1873 on Boulevard Montparnasse, the “81”. His studio began with twelve students such as Carroll Beckwith and Will low. The following year John Sargent, a friend of Paul Helleu joined them. John Sargent and Claude Monet became close friends in 1876. There were corresponds. It is most likely that the American Expatriates learned about Giverny and Claude Monet through Carolus Duran. Carolus was also known to have given free private lessons to some painters. Claude Monet moved to Giverny on April 29 1883.

Butler in Paris

In Paris, Theodore Earl Butler enrolled at la Grande-Chaumière, Atelier Colarossi and at Académie Julian. Bonnard and Vuillard studied at Academy Julian in 1888-1889. Butler studied under Emile Carolus Duran. Theodore Earl Butler stayed for some time in the same building as Carolus Duran. Theodore Earl Butler won an honorable mention in 1888 at the Paris Salon for a painting entitled “la Veuve”, (the Widow.)

Butler at Giverny

Angelina and Lucien Baudy opened Hotel Baudy in June 1887. The Hotel became the hub for the American Expatriates. Many of original photographs taken at Hotel Baudy were the Hoschedé-Monet family. An exhibition of foreign artists including, Butler, Meteyard, Fox, Dice, Stasburg and Dawson Watson was organized from January 31 1892 to February 1892.

At Hotel Baudy, Artists could even buy canvases from Lefevre Foinet and American food to celebrate thanksgiving. The village became to attract a great deal of attention.

According to Katherine M Bourguignon and Vanessa Lecompte over 350 painters from eighteen countries painted in Giverny. A tennis court was built. Numerous parties were organized. Hotel Baudy’s walls were covered by the expatriate.

Butler signed the register under number 11 at Hotel Baudy in 1888 (May 20- September 1888.) along with Theodore Wendel. He was an Ohioan fellow who studied at Academy Julian. Theodore was also at Hotel Baudy from October 1891 to July 21 1892. The main American painters who spent time in Giverny where, John leslie Breck,Theodore Earl Butler, Frieseke, Edmund Greacen, Philip Leslie Hale, Metcalf, Lila Cabot Perry, Theodore Robinson and Guy Rose. On June 10, 1892 Theodore Robinson, Theodore Earl Butler, the Hoschedé and Deconchy were invited by Claude Monet. On July 3 Butler and Robison had diner at Monet’s house.

Butler's Life in Giverny

Monet married Alice Hoschedé the 16th of July 1892. The witnesses were the painter Caillebotte and Hellleu. Despite Claude Monet’s objections to his stepdaughter Suzanne Hoschedé, he finally agreed after discovering the wealth of Butler’s family. Beckwith added to the union. The marriage needed to occur after Claude Monet’ own wedding.

Theodore Earl Butler married Susanne Hoschedé Claude Monet’s step daughter July 20, 1892. Suzanne is known as”The woman with a Parasol”. She was Claude Monet’s favorite Model. This event is described by Theodore Robinson in his diaries as “a great day- The marriage of Butler and Mlle. Suzanne. Everybody nearly at the church- the peasants- many almost unrecognizable. Picard very fine, the wedding party in full dress – ceremony first at the mairie- then at the church. Monet entering first with Suzanne, then Butler and Mme. H (Hoschede). –Considerable feeling on the part of the parents- a breakfast at the atelier – lasting most of the afternoon. Frequent showers, champagne and gaiety - … Dinner and evening at the Monets bride and groom left at 7.30 for the Paris train". The event was immortalized by a painting by Theodore Robinsontitled "the wedding March"
he couple lived in Maison Baptiste. It is located at thr cross street of rue du Milieu and rue du Clombier. Theodore was a key player and a link between the American Colony and Claude Monet. The Butler's famil organized many dinner such as a dinner of October 25, 1892 with Robinson, Hale, Hart and Marthe Hoschedé. He was also a great painter but also an excellent cook and a person full of humor. Butler painted with emotion, sincerity and intensity. “I’m making great Culinary preparations for the winter. ” Theodore decided to buy an orchard and built a new house. “We, Suzanne and Jimmy and I wish that you were here we’d like to see you first rate. I have been working some, about half as much as I should - perhaps less -We are building a house back of Peggy’s in that little orchard you must remember. Said house is to be a wonder of elegance and taste - You will see it next year perhaps.”

Butler participated in the publication and conception of the Courier Innocent. He did the cover and illustrated many pages.
Butler painted a serie of paintings of his own family, Jimmy Butler, born in 1893, and Lily Butler born in in 1894. Those paintings described th daily life of his family. Most of them were done indoor in Maison Baptiste. Those paintings included series entitled The Bath, After the Bath, and Playing with Jimmy. Butler developed his own impressionist style with light palettes and loose brushstrokes. It evokes the works done by Vuillard and Bonnard. From his garden he did a lot of landscapes showing the church of Giverny, "The Demoiselles" (small haystacks) and the grain stacks.

After a lingering illness, Suzanne Hoschede passed away in 1899. There after most of Butler’s paintings were landscapes. Marthe Hoschede, Suzanne’s sister helped Butler raise Jimmy and Lilly.

Theodore Earl Butler

Theodore Earl Butler decided to go back to the USA. A letter from Henry Prellwitz to Philip Hale indicated that Hart told him that Butler will sail on the 16th of September on la “Touraine”[1899] “Dear Phil- Are you going to New York to meet Hart and Butler ? I remember hearing last spring something of that effect- In a letter just received from Hart he says they “sail on the 16th on “La Touraine “and should arrive in New York Sunday the 24th. Possibly Saturday p.m. although I doubt it” I shall go in to town on Saturday to meet them.” He had several one man show in New York. He exhibited, in 1900, at [[Paul Durand Ruel] gallery in New York.“Never having gone up on a balloon. I do not know how the Statue of Liberty looks out of the clouds, but will grant that Mr. Theodore E Butler whose work is being shown at the Durand-Ruel Galleries, knows about it. A like vantage point is needed to recognize the Nuremberg toys-house, which serve as accessories to the artist’s idealization of the Brooklyn Bridge. Mr. Butler moves in another sphere from common folk, and his retina must have a peculiar faculty for chromatic analysis. The extreme of his remarkable vision is witnessed in the evening meal”. N 13, which is wondrously made. .. There is an attempt to lift these excesses to an airy height by adding a poetic flavor in the titles as in No. 24. “Rain Clouds”: but if the title is correct it must have been raining bricks, for there is no misty vapory thinness: everything is as solidely packed as a steamer trunk-hence the elevated conceit comes down with a dull thud. No 3 “A Floating Mist’ and Nos. 5 and 11, showing the same haystack under the baptism of an opalescent and an autumn sunrise declare some better work. Claude Monet, the great luminarist, who proved at least to the world the reasonableness of his artistic conceptions may not be proud of his Giverny pupil who should rub up against some of his own American trees and get down out of the clouds. ” After six month he was back in Giverny.

He married Marthe Hoschedéin 1900. It is critical to point that Marriages to Claude Monet’s two step daughters brought him closer to any other American expatriates.

Blanche Hoschedé Monet, John Sergeant, Jimmy Butler were the only painter who ever painted in Claude Monet’s garden. John Leslie Breck might have done one painting. This painting shows clearly the house of Claude Monet, Blanche and Claude Monet at their easel.
The Butler’s family and the Rose family, Ethel and Guy Rose spent a lot of time together. They rented during the summer time summer houses in Veules les Roses. He was also a close friend of Philipp Hale, John Sergeant, William Hart “Peggy” and Luce.

'==Theodore Earl Butler in the USA (1913-1921)'==

In 1913, the Butler family moved to New York when Butler got a commission to paint mural panels for the home of William Paine. He founded with his friend John Sloan, the Society of Independent Artist serving on its board from 1918 to 1921. The breakout of the World War 1 prevented Theodore to comeback to Giverny until 1921. Theodore got involved with the American Red Cross and raised funds with Marthe Hoschedé . Theodore historically marqued that event with a painting titled “All Together”. Marthe is writing a letter to Claude Monet.

Patrick Bertrand is currently compiling a catalogue raisonne on Theodore Earl Butler. He has also being working on Blanche Hoschede Monet. Patrick was born in le Havre in 1958. He studied in Rouen, Lille, Paris where he got a Master from Science Politiques in Paris.

Patrick Bertrand 18:10, 11 November 2009 (UTC)

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanche_Hoschedé_Monet