Jules Husson

Champfleury (pseudonym of Jules Husson) (b Laon, 17 Sept. 1821; d Sèvres, 6 Dec. 1889). French writer whose huge and varied output included a good deal about art. He was a leading spokesman for the realism of Courbet, declaring that art should depict the social scene as it is without moralizing or idealizing it; a collection of his essays transposing Courbet's ideas to literature was published in 1857 as Le Réalisme, and this is regarded as the chief manifesto of the movement. His other writings include a massive history of caricature (6 vols., 1865–88). He was also interested in ceramics and in 1872 he was appointed curator of the collections at the Sèvres porcelain factory. He is portrayed in Courbet's The Painter's Studio (1854–5, Mus. d'Orsay, Paris), Manet's Music in the Tuileries Gardens (1862, NG, London), and Fantin-Latour's Homage to Delacroix (1864, Mus. d'Orsay).

Jules Husson , 1821-89, French novelist who wrote under the name Champfleury . Considered a pioneer of French realism, Champfleury was an avid collector of French art and artifacts and conducted extensive research into French history. His literary views are set forth in Réalisme (1857). Among his novels are Les Bourgeois de Molinchart (1854), a portrait of provincial life; and Les Souffrances du Professeur Delteil (1856), a comedy about student pranks. His other works include Histoire de la cariacature (1865-69). In later life he was director of the porcelain factory at Sèvres.