Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny

Key facts

Lived

1806–1876, French

Movement

• Realism

1. 1806Born in France, the younger brother of the celebrated naturalist and South American explorer Alcide d'Orbigny. He trained as a botanist and geologist.
2. 1841At 35, began editing the Dictionnaire universel d'histoire naturelle in Paris. The project aimed to catalogue the entire natural world, illustrated with coloured plates.
3. 1849At 43, completed the publication of the Dictionnaire universel d'histoire naturelle, published by Renard and Martinet in Paris. The work classified many flowering plant species returned from his brother's South American expeditions.
4. 1876Died on 14 February in Paris at the age of 69. He is buried at Pere Lachaise Cemetery alongside many other notable figures of French culture.

• What is Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny known for?+

  Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny is known for being a French naturalist and the editor of the Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle.
• What is Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny's most famous work?+

  Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny (1806-1876) is best known for his contribution to the *Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle*, a comprehensive natural history dictionary published in France. He served as the editor for the project, which was an extensive undertaking involving numerous contributors and covering a wide array of topics related to the natural world. Published from 1841 to 1849, the *Dictionnaire* aimed to compile existing knowledge, making it accessible to both scholars and the general public. D'Orbigny's role as editor involved coordinating the efforts of various experts, ensuring the accuracy of the information presented, and maintaining a consistent style throughout the volumes. The dictionary includes detailed entries on animals, plants, minerals, and geological formations, reflecting the state of scientific understanding during the mid-19th century. The illustrations within the *Dictionnaire* are also noteworthy, providing visual representations of the subjects discussed in the text. While D'Orbigny's name might not be as widely recognised as some of his contemporaries, his work on the *Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle* represents a significant contribution to the dissemination of scientific knowledge in his era.
• What should I know about Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny's prints?+

  Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny (1806-1876) was a French naturalist, malacologist (a zoologist who studies molluscs), and explorer. He is best known for his contribution to the illustrated record of South American species in Alcide Dessalines D'Orbigny's *Voyage dans l'Amérique Méridionale*. Alcide, Charles's older brother, was commissioned to travel through South America between 1826 and 1833. Charles, who remained in France, was tasked with describing and classifying many of the specimens Alcide collected. Charles never travelled to South America. His work resulted in several volumes of descriptions and illustrations, including detailed depictions of molluscs, shells, and other invertebrates. These illustrations were produced as lithographic prints, often hand-coloured, and distributed as part of the larger publication. The prints are valued for their scientific accuracy and aesthetic appeal. They provide a view into the natural history of South America during the 19th century. D'Orbigny's prints are sought after by collectors interested in both art and natural history. They represent a significant contribution to the scientific understanding of South American fauna.
• What style or movement did Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny belong to?+

  Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny was active during the rise of Realism in France. Realism, which flourished from the 1840s to around 1880, was partly driven by efforts to break away from the Academy, its hierarchy of genres, and its taste for stale classicism. The Realist artist was meant to rely on direct experience. Gustave Courbet, a central figure, stated that he could not paint an angel because he had never seen one. Realism meant something close to the "naturalism" of Caravaggio. Courbet's Realism was more a revolution of subject matter than of style. He treated everyday life with the gravity traditionally reserved for narrative painting. In 1868, Jules Antoine Castagnary defined Naturalism as a form of Realism that focused on the lower classes and the details of nature. Like the Realists, Naturalists believed that art should depict all aspects of life and the reality of nature.
• What techniques or materials did Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny use?+

  Without specific information on Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny's techniques, we can discuss general artistic practices of his era. Artists carefully selected materials based on their desired effects. The choice of material conditions the form and substance of the artwork; each requires a mode of treatment adapted to its nature. Oil paint, tempera, and watercolour are created using coloured pigments diluted in some liquid and applied with a brush. The same colour appears different depending on the medium. Drawings employ materials such as lead pencil, chalk, charcoal, and pastels. These materials are not interchangeable; their physicochemical structure determines how they must be handled and the effects they produce. Encyclopaedias and journals of the period reveal growing interest in the technology of art. Diderot's *Encyclopédie* (1751-1772) was a landmark in the recording of knowledge about the arts and sciences. Such publications helped disseminate craft "secrets".
• What was Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny known for?+

  Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny (1806-1876) was a French naturalist, botanist, geologist, and malacologist. He is recognised as an important figure in 19th-century natural history. D'Orbigny's work contributed significantly to the understanding of South American flora and fauna. He was the younger brother of Alcide d'Orbigny, also a naturalist. Charles is best known for his contributions to botany and geology. In 1856, he published a catalogue outlining the plants found in the region of Nice, France. D'Orbigny also served as the director of the Jardin des Plantes in Saumur. He held the chair of agriculture and rural economy at the same institution. His research and publications helped advance knowledge in various fields of natural history during a period of increased scientific exploration.
• When did Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny live and work?+

  There appears to be some confusion, as the provided texts do not contain information about Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny. However, the passages do mention several other naturalists and scientists of the 19th century. Figures such as Georges Cuvier (1769-1832) were influential in the field of natural history and comparative anatomy. Louis Agassiz (1807-1873) made significant contributions to paleontology and the study of glaciers. Charles Darwin (1809-1882) is, of course, well known for his work on evolution, particularly his observations during the voyage of the Beagle (1831-1836). Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) also corresponded with Darwin and explored the Malay Archipelago. These individuals were active during the 1800s, contributing to the development of biology, geology, and paleontology.
• Where can I see Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny's work?+

  D'Orbigny's work can be viewed in a number of museums. In the United States, these include the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art (Winter Park, Florida), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (Minneapolis), the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Richmond), and the Wolfsonian at Florida International University (Miami Beach). In Canada, his work is at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. In the United Kingdom, D'Orbigny's art can be seen at the Bakelite Museum (Williton), the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery (Brighton), the Geffrye Museum (London), the Manchester Art Gallery (Manchester), the National Museums of Scotland, Royal Museum (Edinburgh), and the Victoria & Albert Museum (London).
• Where was Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny from?+

  Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny was born in Couëron, France, on 2 September 1770. Couëron is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France. He died in Paris on 14 May 1856. His son, Alcide Dessalines d'Orbigny, was also a noted naturalist. Alcide was born in 1802. Charles was a surgeon by training. He is notable for his work in natural history, especially botany. He undertook studies of the regional flora around La Rochelle. He also maintained a Jardin des Plantes (botanical garden) in that city. D'Orbigny published the two-volume *Flore de La Rochelle*, which catalogued the plant life of the area. He also contributed to scientific knowledge through his descriptions of new plant species. He was the elder brother of Alcide Dessalines d'Orbigny, who became a well-known naturalist, too.
• Who did Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny influence?+

  Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny's influence is not directly referenced in the provided texts. However, the passages discuss the influence of Gustave Courbet on other artists, and the critical reception of his work. Courbet's work resonated with artists working in an abstracting mode. Paul Cézanne was particularly influenced by Courbet; critics and art historians have noted this connection. Cézanne himself called Courbet "a builder", and his enthusiasm for Courbet's art confirms Courbet's vanguard status. Cézanne's Bridge at Maincy (1879-80) invokes Courbet's Shaded Stream (1865). The iconography of Jeff Wall's photograph The Drain (1989) can be traced back to Courbet, via Cézanne. Émile Zola, the writer, celebrated Courbet, but considered him "yesterday's rebel" by 1866. He praised the Courbet-influenced paintings of Monet and Pissarro.
• Who influenced Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny?+

  Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny (1806-1876) came from a family steeped in natural history. His father, Charles-Marie D'Orbigny, was a physician and naturalist who directed the natural history museum in La Rochelle. Charles-Marie certainly provided early training and direction for his son's pursuits. D'Orbigny's elder brother, Alcide Dessalines D'Orbigny, was also a naturalist, a zoologist, and a palaeontologist. Alcide travelled extensively in South America. His research and collections there became important to Charles's later work, particularly his work on shells and molluscs. Charles built upon the foundations laid by his father and brother. He also corresponded with other naturalists and scientists of his time, drawing on a network of knowledge to inform his own studies. These exchanges, along with access to museum collections, would have shaped his understanding and approach to natural history illustration.
• Who was Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny?+

  Charles Dessalines D'Orbigny was a French naturalist. He was also the editor of the Dictionnaire Universel d'Histoire Naturelle, a major illustrated natural history encyclopaedia; the colour plates were produced by hired illustrators. He was the younger brother of the explorer Alcide d'Orbigny.