Wild Roses |
Paul de Longpré Born in 1855 near Lyon, France
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Wild Roses |
Paul de Longpré Born in 1855 near Lyon, France
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Born in to a family of noted artists, Paul de Longpre started painting as a young child. Although the family had a distinguished name, it had little money. At the age of twelve, Paul joined the family pursuit of painting flowers as patterns for the textile mills that proliferated in Lyon, at the time a center for the European silk industry. He became well known for his renditions of flowers, especially roses. |
| He gained wide popularity in France before coming
to the United States and settling in New York City, around 1890. The lure of
California's year round sunshine and blossoms brought de Longpre to Los Angeles in
1898. He held a large exhibition of his flower paintings and met with immediate
success. One of his patrons was the widow of the original developer of Hollywood,
and in 1900, de Longpre bought a sizeable parcel at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and
Cahuenga Avenue valued at $3000. The price for the tract was paid in the form of an
exchange for three of his paintings.
He built a large, Moorish-style mansion and planted a three-acre garden boasting more than 3,000 rose bushes. His garden became the first tourist attraction in Hollywood. A few years after his death, the house was demolished and the site is now part of the "Hollywood Walk of Fame" in downtown Hollywood. In his memory, one of the streets near his property is now called De Longpre Avenue. |
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He is most renowned for his beautiful and botanically
exact watercolor paintings of flowers, particularly roses. His garden was often the
source for his artistic inspiration. He was called "Le Roi de Fleurs" (The
King of Flowers) and won many awards during his lifetime.
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For more information
about this artist or other featured artists, please contact the Irvine Museum. Phone:(949) 476-0294 |
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2008 ~ The Irvine Museum ~ all rights reserved
