Lucien Jonas (1880 - 1947)

Born into an industrial family in the North of France, Lucien Jonas passed his baccalaureate in 1898, before entering the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. During his brilliant studies, he became a member of the Société des Artistes Français in 1901, while also working in the studio of Albert Maignan. The beginning of his career was marked by prizes: a silver medal at the 1905 Salon, a 2nd prize in Rome the same year...

His career well launched, he married Suzanne Bedorez in 1908, who gave him three children. The recognition of his talent did not falter: 1911 the Superior Council of Fine Arts awarded him a national prize, 1915 he was approved as a military painter, in 1916 he was appointed painter of the navy. He produced wall decorations, tapestry cartoons for the Gobelins, bank notes, portraits of famous and unknown men, genre scenes... This hard worker produced a considerable body of work throughout his life which earned him the title of Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1929. Lucien Jonas never ceased to pay tribute to Valenciennes, but unfortunately many of his works disappeared in 1940 during the bombing. In the Salt Marshes Museum, you will find a portrait of a family of salt workers called "Noces d'or" (Golden Wedding) painted in 1925. It is present in many museums. The Carnavalet Museum devoted an exhibition to him in 2003 and the Valenciennes Museum in 2006.