Arsene Chabanian (1864-1949) Part III

The real tutor of Arsene Chabanian was the nature, especially seashore regions, where he created numerous studies and paintings, which are exhibited in different galleries.
(Macler F. La France et l’Armunie a travers l’histoire, Paris, 1917).

He became a professional painter, acquiring good knowledge of art and developing at the same time his individual orientation. He equally worked in diverse genres: landscape, genre scenes, still-life and portrait. Being still a student, Chabanian was also interested in graphics and created a number of impressing works in the genre of eau-forte. After his years at the Julien Academy, as R. Chichmanian noticed: ‘’Chabanian hasn’t adopted any of these masters’ orientations, he hasn’t chosen to follow their way, but, having improved and enriched his brush technique, he returned to living nature, to the world of sea, which he had learned to love deeply In the East’’.
(R. Chichmanian, Landscape and Armenian Painters, Yerevan, 1958, in Armenian).


Still living in Paris and having as tutors Jean-Paul Laurens and Benjamen Constant, ‘’Every year Mr. Chabanian spent several months in Bretagne, at the ocean shore, getting there his ispiration and ideas for his future paintings. Storms, sea calmness, low and high tide, whirlwind, flying birds – his brush shows us all these natural events, which have inspired him, in their perfect reality’’.
(Auguste Bernard, ‘’Mshak’’, Tiflis, N 125, 1902, in Armenian).

Chabanian stayed in all Frech provinces for some time: seachore Bretagne, Vendйe, South of France, everywhere studying the magic mystery of the sea and painting numerous seascapes, each better of the other.
1894 – First exhibition at the Salon of French artists. ‘’During his trip to Bretagne Chabanian created numerous seascapes which he sent to the Salon of French artists. They immediately created a furor and all the press was inundated by words of praise about the ‘’painter of sea and light’’, as Chabanian already showed in these paintings his firm viewpoint to which he remained faithful until the last days of his life’’.
(Onnig Avedissian, Peintres et sculpteurs armйniens, Le Caire, 1959).

He went to trips, visiting Italy, Belgium, Holland and England, The painter was impressed by the natural God-made beauty of fields and mountains, rivers and seas. ‘’Chabanian didn’t like the atmosphere of atelier. The open air, nature and especially the sea had a magic attraction for him…These paintings immediately created a great interest and the French press began to speak about the ‘’painter of light and sea’’.
(Reverend Archimandrite Aristakes Pohjalean, Essay on Armenian Painting, Vienna, 1959).

1898 – We read in the paper ‘’L’Armenie’’ (N 12) that ‘’Arsene Chabanian, an Armenian painter from Karin, exhibited some of his famous paintings at the Gallery Georges Petit. The crowd of art amateurs of different of nations, who came to visit the exhibition, was charmed and congratulated the master from Karin for this great success.
Chabanian presented sixty paintings. From these works ‘’The Shore of Pan-Chateau’’, The Night on the Ocean’’, ‘’Evening-glow’’, ‘’The Beginning of the Storm’’ and some moonscapes are especially to be mentioned’’.
(Editorial, ‘’Handes Amsorya’’, Vienna, N 12, 1899, in Armenian).

Arsene Chabanian (1864-1949) Part II

Arsene Chabanian is one of the most prominent seascape painters in Armenian and European art. He spent his long and fruitful life in foreign lands: Italy, France, Belgium, England, where he fundamentally studied his profession with famous masters, then presenting his works in art galleries and exhibitions. Chabanian’s works are almost exceeding one thousand. They are not so numerous in Armenia, some of them being kept in National Gallery of Armenia, in Echmiadzin Holy See Museum and in one or two private collections.

     Of course, the little number of his works in Armenia makes it difficult to give a complete review of the talanted painter’s creation. Many art critics and amateurs, who had seen his works in numerous European exhibitons and collections kept in diverse countries, left their opinions and observations about them and that is why we thought it more expedient to cite the characteristics given to Chabanian’s works by those competent specialists parallel to our short chronological review of his life and career. That will be more convincing and reliable.

    The life of famous men may often seem mysterious. Sometimes the most ordinary and daily events become interesting and deserve attention only because they have happened to these celebrities. Many stories, rare and unexpected happenings, amazing or extraordinary events, funny everyday occurrences have been told about such artists as H. Aivazovski, V. Sureniants, M. Sarian, E. Tadevosian and others…

     Nevertheless, by irony of fate, there is very few information about Arsene Chabanian, a person who was sociable and cheerful, participated in numerous exhibitions and manifestations and lived eighty-five years long life.

     We know only short facts about his personal exhibitions and some others, in which he participated, as well as opinions and appreciations expressed by specialists. Facts about his private life are even scarcer, citing only towns where he lived and his moves from one place to another… He had a son: Hrant Chabanian (Heran Chaban 1888-1939), who was also a talented painter being susceptible to impressionism and cubism.  Heran studied painting at Paris School of Fine Arts.

    We also know that in his youth (1891) Arsene Chabanian offered his painting called ‘’The Liner Nakhimov in the Port  of Batumi’’ to the Russian Grand Duke Georgui Alexandrovich. The latter highly appreciated the painting and expressed his special gratitude to the painter.