 |
|
The painter was very inspired, because he had met the muse for the
rest of his life, the beautiful and intelligent Vilma Kracikova, whom he first met in France
in the year 1903 in the picturesque little town Ault-Onival on the coast of Normandy, where he painted
some of his famous impressions of the beach. The couple married in the church of
St. Nicholas in Prague January 17th 1906 4).
The newlyweds returned to Paris and moved to Boulevard Montparnasse 83, where the artist had his own atelier
5).
Church of St. Nicolas, Prague 2007. |
After the return to Paris Šimon started to work with renewed energy.
Regarding his graphics he added two new techniques, the mezzotint and wood-cut.
He exhibited already before in the Salon de Beaux Arts where his prints came to
the attention of the graphic arts dealer Sagot who took some of them for sale. Also Georges Petit, owner of a prestigious gallery in Paris, showed great
interest in Šimon's
colour aquatints and began to sell and commission them regularly.
Šimon's name
began to appear prominently in international competition as witnessed by an
article by J. Friedenthal in "Graphische Künste" where he pointed out
that Šimon discovered in Paris something other
that the Frenchmen did not see. Perhaps because he was born in the country he
had a fresh perception of the city scenery that might have escaped a born
Parisian.
Šimon captured these scenes in paintings,
drawings and etchings in an original, poetic manner that gained him a wide
circle of admirers. His French colleagues called these pieces "Paysages de
Paris" (Parisian landscapes). The quays, markets, boulevards, streets and
alleys, quiet corners, pawnshops and bouquinistes, all that was rendered in soft
lines and subdued colour harmony, thus recreating and rejuvenating a genre that
has gone out of style. By its success Šimon found out that graphic works get in
circulation easier than paintings since they are more accessible to a greater
number of collectors and, being signed by the author, are originals in their own
right. He wanted to make himself different from all other Šimons by a permanent, effective initial.
While in his first exhibit in Prague Šimon was listed as František
in all subsequent ones he was always using his expanded signature T.F. Šimon. The T stands for Tavik, the family
name of his mother.
|
|
František and Vilma, 1912
|
|
Friendly contacts among compatriots residing in Paris reflected in portraits
such as those of the sculptors Mařatka, Kafka, Spaniel and Gutfreund, the painter
Špillar and the astronomer M. R.
Štefanik. In turn,
Šimon also influenced them: both Kafka and Spaniel tried their hands at etchings, as well as the
painter-illustrator Strimpl. Štefanik did not experiment in print-making but
instead became an avid art collector. He attended auctions with his artist
friends and together they prowled the pawn shops and flea markets. They frequented the exhibitions at the official "Salons" and at the
galleries of well known art dealers, such as Durand Ruel, Vollard, Bernheim and
Druet. In Štefanik's apartment in Rue Leclerc was accumulating a sundry
collection of rare china, rugs, arms, decorative fabrics, bronze objects, clumps
of corals and minerals. Among these was a piece of uranium ore which the
astronomer used to carry in his coat pocket to show its phosphorescence to his
amazed friends.
The first decade of twentieth century was a period of Šimon's intense productivity
and participation in numerous exhibits.
He was invited by numerous organizations, such as the Société de la Gravure en
Couleurs,
the Société de la
Gravure en Noir, the Société des Peintres-Graveurs Français, the Gallery Walker of
Liverpool and the Royal Society of Painters, Etchers and Engravers of London.
Interest was also extended from Bern, Switzerland and from Chicago and from New
York where F. Keppel was dealing in modern graphic art.
|
|
|
T. F. Šimon: "Vilma reading a Book", oil
on canvas.
|
|
| Rue Humboldt 25 (14th district of Paris). From ca.1926 on
this street was called Rue Jean Dolent. In the thirties the small part
of Rue Jean Dolent, in where this house is located, got the name Rue
Verhaeren. This is the present name for the small alley in where the
house is located. The family moved to this house circa starting 1908. |
Simon's studio was on the second floor of the house
(photo: ca. 1910). |
|
In 1911 there was in Paris the first comprehensive exhibit of cubist
painters. Cubism heralded a new radical trend subsequently embraced by the
avant-garde artists throughout Europe, including Prague, where in the Art
Society Manes it lead to a rift in which the young avant-garde (Vaclav
Spala, Emil Filla, Bohumil Kubista, V.H. Brunner and others ) seceded and started a
group "Osma" (The Eight) of their own.
Šimon was well aware of the new winds blowing and was informed about the
events in Prague by letters from his friends. In spite of it he chose to
ignore the modernistic trends and continued to develop his own personal
style characterized by a unique combination of realistic craftsmanship with
a sensitive feel for colour and mood of the scene.
In summer of the year 1912 Šimon
returned for a trip with his family to Prague and they decided to spend a part of their
vacation in the region called Moravian Slovakia which was renown for its colourful
village life. Unfortunately, this trip ended tragically when their
first-born son Kamil became ill with meningitis and died. After their return to
Paris the Šimons decided to do some travelling, in part to overcome the grief and
depression which affected particularly Vilma. From their visit to Bretagne,
Spain and Tangiers T.F. Šimon brought back a rich harvest of new motifs for
paintings and etchings. In 1913 Šimon began to think of returning to Prague,
planning to keep in Paris only a small studio. In summer of 1914 while the Šimons were again in Prague the archduke Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo
and a war broke out that turned out to become the World War I. The return to
France became impossible. The painter was not drafted in the Austrian army but
the livelihood of an artist became rather difficult as war years dragged on. He
continued to create works often inspired by the scenes of life in Prague and his
longing for his beloved France. In the winter of 1916 he painted the masterly
"Saint-Nicolas Market". |
|
 |
| |
|
| |
T.F.
Šimon: "Vilma and
Ivan".
Drawing in ink on paper
Signed TFŠ, ca.1915.
Published in Topicuv Sbornik, 1918.
|
|
Even though he had to work very hard to
support the family Šimon
he was thinking of
helping his fellow artists who were often struggling for bare existence. His
organizational talents lead to the founding with Max Švabinsky of the "Association
of Czech Graphic Artists Hollar" (so named after Vaclav Hollar, an outstanding engraver mostly active in London in 17th century). This group of
some fifteen original members was organized to give support to the artists by
providing a gallery space for exhibits, a sales room and an editorial office for
publishing a quarterly "Hollar" to which Šimon often contributed
articles on graphic arts and artists. The association "Hollar" also
strived at increasing the public awareness of Czech graphic arts at home and
abroad; it is still in existence to-day.
When returned to Paris after the war he
found the studio, the graphic tools, the press, the supplies and the paintings
all under dust and mildew. Worse still he was obliged to pay the back rent for
four years (and shipping costs of the remainders back to Prague) which added up
to a considerable financial burden. Fortunately, he was able to renew quickly
the contacts with the publishers and art dealers in Paris and to obtain ample
commissions and contracts. Back home he was commissioned, along with other artists, by
the initiative of the Defence Ministry of Czechoslovak Republic, to visit and document the various battlegrounds where the Czech and Slovak
battalions in exile fought along the Allied Armies.
Šimon chose to visit France
and made a number of dramatic etchings from the ruins of Reims. |
| |
|
| |
T.F.
Šimon: "Selfportrait".
Drawing. Mixed-media on brown paper.
Signed TFŠ, dated
1911. Size 20 x 25 cm.
|
The twenties and thirties were very busy years for T.F. Šimon.
He produced a great number of colour aquatints of Prague motifs and he also
returned (often with family) to Paris to satisfy the demand for his
characteristic vistas of the city and of the beaches of Normandy.
In 1921 he visited Slovakia - in part for therapy in the spa Trencianske
Teplice-and made a number of etchings from the picturesque towns and mountains.
Meanwhile, he also became involved in graphic design of books and created a
great number of ex-libris for collectors-bibliophiles. In the twentieth he had
built a beautiful villa, Na Zatorce 483 (later called V Tišine
10) in Prague, with a large studio. The artist Alfons Mucha lived in the
same street, V Tišine
4. Šimon made three murals on the outer
walls, still to be seen. All along, Šimon was thinking about broadening
his repertoire by visiting the more distant parts of the world and eventually
fulfilling his long-held dream of travelling around the world.
He started the long trip in August 1926, fully armed with his tools for drawing,
sketching and painting. He was regularly writing long letters to his wife
describing his experiences and impressions, often illustrated with pencil
sketches.
|
T. F. Šimon: "A sunny Day at the Beach",
1909, oil on canvas.
|
From the impressions of New York Šimon created a number of
exceptionally effective paintings, etchings and colour aquatints. From
New-York the tour then
proceeded to Boston, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago,
Washington, Philadelphia, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, after
which he continued to Hawaii and the Philippines, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon),
India, Egypt, and Greece, ending with Naples and Marseille. The Orient made a
great impression on the artist and he responded by producing numerous etchings,
aquatints and oil paintings, some of which were shown at a comprehensive exhibit
in Prague on the occasion of
Šimon's 50th birthday. After his return some of these were collected in
book format and published in 1928 under the title "Listy z cesty
kolem sveta" (Letters from a voyage around the world).
The first stop of the tour in the USA was New York where T. F. Šimon
had already established contacts from previous years, when he visited
Detroit and Chicago.
In 1928 Šimon was appointed a
professor at the Academy of Arts in Prague
to head the school of graphic arts previously held by Max Švabinsky. He took the
teaching job very seriously and devoted a lot of time to it, including writing
and publishing of two manuals, one dealing with etching and the other with
woodcut. The instruction took 3 to 4 years, the first of which was devoted to
drawing from live models and composition; then followed instruction in all forms
of graphic arts, the practical classes being run with the aid of an assistant. Šimon's first assistant was Cyril Bouda, the future husband of his daughter Eva,
later followed by Vladimir Pukl.Professor Šimon cautioned his students against superficiality and artistic
shortcuts. He stressed study from nature and reality rather than following
preconceived theories. He familiarized his students with the works of the
masters of graphic arts, such as Dürer, Rembrandt, Hollar, Piranesi and Goya,
and his own favourites, such as Brangwyn, Whistler, Lautrec, Lepčre, Meryon and
others. This was followed by discussions in class and supplemented by visits to
the Modern Gallery (of which he was one of the curators). Some fifty students
passed through Šimon's class of which about one-half graduated with a degree of Master. All this came to an end when the Academy was closed in November 1939
after the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia.
After 1930 his work as a professor, curator and writer took
too much of his energy, and it is regrettable he had too little time for his
artistic work. Still he made some masterpieces, like a painting (1936) of his
son Pavel Šimon (born 1920). Šimon took very hard the events of World War II and
stress declined his health seriously. Tavik František Šimon died at home,
December 19, 1942 by heart failure following a heart attack some months earlier.
For his wife the years after were very hard. After the war
there were some peaceful years, the art-collections of the Šimons, among with a
lot of very valuable paintings the painter always kept, and very much graphics
and drawings and his large library of especially books of art, were still in
their possession. In the house lived Vilma together with her sons. Her daughter Eva married before 1940 the future famous national artist Cyril Bouda and got a
son (the
graphic artist Jiři Bouda). Pavel Šimon became also an artist. A painter and
graphic artist, well known for his book illustrations and ex-libris. He died young in
1958 in Prague. Mr. Ivan
Šimon emigrated with his wife and two
children to the U.S.A in 1947.
During the communist regime the family Šimon had again to accept that other people
came to live in their house. The artist Tavik
František
Šimon was no longer
wanted by the communists. The name T.F.
Šimon disappeared
from the official art books and nothing of value was published about this great
Czech artist. They had their policy of silence. The archives of the Art Society Hollar were destroyed during the communist time.
After more
then 40 years of silence in the communist era nowadays the revaluation of the artist is in progress.
In 1994 an exhibition in Prague at the National Gallery was mounted,
organised by Eva Buzgova. In 2002
there was an exhibition at the Czech Centre in New-York and in
the same year was hold an extended sale-exhibition of graphic work by T.F. Šimon in Chicago (Frederick Baker).
Vilma Šimonova died in 1959. She was a wonderful woman. After the death of her
husband her aim was to keep the art collection of the family together and to
catalogue the collection. During the
hard communist regime of the fifties she had the courage to erect a memorial on the cemetery of Bubeneč in the north of Prague to honour the great artist who considered himself
first and foremost as a painter.Sources:
This biography is
mainly based on an abridged translation in English from Eva Buzgova`s booklet "Malir a grafik T. F. Šimon (1877-1942) vyber z
dila" by Professor Mr. Ivan Šimon (1914-2009), son of Vilma
and František Šimon who emigrated in 1947 to
America/ Boston.
The booklet was published in occasion of the exhibition of paintings
and graphics by T. F.
Šimon in Kinsky
Palace in Prague, Mai 31- July 3, 1994. We are very
grateful for the co-operation with Mr. Šimon and the work by Eva Buzgova.
1) census
2) + 3) catalogue Chrudim, 1903
4) civil registration, Prague. 5) correspondence with Hugo Boettinger.
|
The villa of Vilma and Tavik František Šimon in Prague
|
 |
| |
The impressive villa of T. F. Šimon, V Tišine 10, Bubeneč, Prague, 2007.
Nowadays an Algerian consulate.
|
T.F.
Šimon: "Idyll", mural of a lovely
girl on the
front of the artist's villa.
T.F. Šimon: "Shepherd`s boy with a
German flute", mural on the front of the artist's villa.
T.F. Šimon: "Pastoral", mural on the south wall of
artist's villa.
|
 |
|
|
The memorial for T. F.
Šimon
|
|
|
Memorial
for T.F. Šimon,
Cemetery in
Bubeneč
, Erected by his widow Vilma in the 50's.
The portrait in bronze is by the sculptor
Josef Šejnost (created in 1937).
|
|
Chronology
Important events and exhibitions
|
 |
|
|
1877 |
|
Genealogy |
|
|
|
<1889-1994> |
|
Before T.F. Šimon enters the Academy of Fine Arts in1894 in Prague, he
studied for a period of three years at the
Civic high school
(school of commerce) in Duba (ca.60 km north of Prague). |
|
|
1894
|
|
Accepted to the Academy of Fine Arts (Akademie
výtvarných umení, UVA) and enters the class of Prof. Maximilian Pirner
(1854-1924) starting winter-season 1895/96.
(source: ex. catalogue Chrudim 1903). |
|
|
1898
|
|
Travels to a warmer climate to recover from
illness, he stays with his sister Anna Katerina in Bosnia/ Herzegovina. (source:
Topicov Sbornik 1923). |
|
|
1898
|
|
Participates for the first time with Society Manes in
Salon Topic in Prague.
Included the oil-painting: Portrait of my
father. |
|
Prague |
| 1898-1904 |
|
Several illustrations of Simon's
artworks were published in art-magazines f.i. Volné Smery, The studio
(London)and Kunst für Alle (München). |
|
|
| 1899 |
|
Participates with 'Krasoumna Jednota' (Fine Arts Union/
Kunstvereins für Böhmen) in The Rudolfinum in Prague. Included the
oil-painting (illustrated in the catalogue): Portrait of J.V.
Sladek
(poet and writer). |
|
Prague |
| 1899 |
|
Travels (study) to Bosnia,
Dalmatia and Montenegro. (source: Topicov Sbornik 1923.
According to correspondences: October 1899). |
|
|
| 1900 |
|
Graduates from the Academy of
Fine Arts (Akademie výtvarných umení, UVA) in Prague. |
|
|
| 1900 |
|
Travels to Croatia, Bosnia and
Italy. At least from April 8- Mai- June 28. (source:
correspondences). |
|
|
| 1900 |
|
Participates with 'Krasoumna Jednota' (Fine Arts Union/
Kunstvereins für Böhmen) in The Rudolfinum in Prague. 4 oil-paintings. |
|
Prague |
| 1900 |
|
Participates with Society Manes in Prague. 3
oil-paintings: The sea / Playing waves and Bosnian mule
+ 2 graphical artworks. |
|
Prague |
| 1900 |
|
The same above mentioned Manes exhibition was also to
see in Vienna. (where?) The Ministry of Education bought one
oil-painting:
Bosnian mule.
(source: ex. catalogue Chrudim 1903). |
|
Vienna |
| 1900-1901 |
|
Military Service. October 1900-october 1901.
(photo 1901: on the right sitting
TFŠ). |
|
|
| 1901 |
|
Participates with 'Krasoumna Jednota' (Fine Arts Union/
Kunstvereins für Böhmen), Annual exhibition, Rudolfinum in Prague. 3
oil-paintings. |
|
Prague |
|
1902 |
|
Obtains the Josef
Hlavka Travel Stipend. He won the award
with 2 exhibited oil-paintings:
Symphony
(1902) and
Convalescent (1902). With the stipend the artist travells
to Italy and stays there for a period of 4 months.
(source: exh. catalogue Chrudim 1903/ Arthur Novak-
Hollar, 1937).
Both sources do not mention where these artworks were exhibited, we do
suppose in the Rudolfinum/1902. |
|
|
| 1902 |
|
Participates with Society Manes with artists
association Hagenbund Vienna. 4 oil-paintings. Included the oil-painting
Symphony. |
|
Vienna |
| 1903 |
|
Participates with 'Krasoumna Jednota' (Fine Arts Union/ Kunstvereins
für Böhmen), Annual exhibition, The Rudolfinum in Prague.7
oil-paintings. Included the oil-painting Jaro/ Spring
(1902), In the loge at the concert
and Reflexionen aus der vergangenheit Venedigs
(wins for the second time the Hlavka travel
award).
(source: ex. catalogue Chrudim
1903/Arthur Novak-Hollar, 1937). |
|
Prague |
| 1903 |
|
Obtains the above mentioned
Hlavka travel stipend
that ablest him to visit Paris (he sees for
the first time Whistlers artworks exhibited)
and
Ault-Onival/ coast of Normandy. Visits also in the same year London,
Belgium and
Holland.
Simon got aquaintance in Paris with
J.F. Raffaëlli
who was the leading personality of Salon de la Société de la Grafure orginale en Couleurs
(set up in 1903). |
|
|
| 1903 |
|
Participates with Society Manes in Prague. 6 oil-paintings. Included
the oil-painting
In front of the mirror. |
|
Prague |
| 1903 |
|
The same above mentioned Manes Exhibition (+ more
included artworks by T.F. Simon) was also to see in Chrudim
(town east of Prague). (source: ex.
catalogue Chrudim 1903). |
|
Chrudim |
1901-1914
|
|
Between 1901-1914 the artist participates with artists
association Hagenbund in Vienna. Austrian group of artists formed in
1900 in Vienna as "Künstlerbund Hagen", along with the Künstlerhaus and
the Secession the third most important Viennese artists association.
Founder of Hagenbund was Joseph Urban. Other artists a.o. who exhibited
with this association were Oskar Kokoschka and Egon Schiele. |
|
Vienna |
|
1903 |
|
Šimon
meets his future wife Vilma Kracik in Onival in
1903, a small village on the coast of Normandy. The Czech sculptor
Josef
Kratina, who lived in Paris already for
a few years before Šimon
arrives, was married to Vilma's sister Ruzena. Kratina and Ruzena move to New York
ca.1907. Their daughter
Lydia Kratina
(*1908, USA) marries in 1933 the Slovak painter and graphic artist
Koloman Sokol (*1902
Liptovský Mikuláš; † 2003 Tucson, USA). |
|
|
1904
|
|
Moves to Paris with his
friend the Czech artist Ferdinand Michl (1877-1951).
They arrive in Paris at February 22, 1904.
«
.........
.This was at the beginning of my stay in Paris
– in the end of February 1904 when I came there with my friend Michl.
We used to go for lunch to some restaurant at noon and instead of
dinner, we rather went to some café-house, where we could sit, with a
glass of café or another drink, relaxing, talking and sketching till or
even over midnight.
»
(Rue
Daguerre April 1904). |
|
|
|
1905 |
|
A few months in Przemysl, Poland,
to complete military service and visits Krakau. |
|
|
| 1905-1929 |
|
Salon d 'Automne,
Paris.1905/1907/1908/1909/1910/1911/1912/1913/1919 (Reims
etchings)/1928/1929. |
|
Paris |
|
1905/1906 |
|
Starts to coöperate with publisher/art dealer
George Petit
in Paris. According the catalogue raisonné we may
conclude the artist started to coöperate with publisher George Petit in
1904 (not for sure yet). |
|
|
1905/1906
|
|
First solo
exhibition in the Manes Pavilon in Kinsky Garden, Prague,
organised by "Society (S.V.U.) Manes",
80 oil-paintings, 6 crayons, 2 drawings and 38
graphical artworks (7 monotypes).
December 1905/January 1906. |
|
Prague |
| 1906-1912 |
|
Salon des Beaux-Arts (Salon de la Société Nationale des
Beaux-Arts), Paris, 1906/ (1907/solo)/1909/
1910/1911/1912. |
|
Paris |
| 1906 |
|
Marries Vilma Kracik,
schoolteacher, in St. Nicholas church In Mala Strana, Prague on January
17. They return to Paris (Boulevard Montparnasse 83). |
|
|
| 1906 |
|
Accepted to the Salon de la
Société de la Grafure orginale en Couleurs. Paris. Leading personality
of this Society was at that time J.F. Rafaëlli whom T F Simon
already met in Paris in 1903. |
|
|
| 1906 |
|
Starts
correspondence with Sagot in Paris and
offers his artworks in commission to this art dealer.
|
«
..I am a Czech painter and graphic artist and member of Society
Manes in Prague. I life now for two years in Paris and have
acclimatized well. Last year in 1905, there was an exhibition in
Prague organised by Manes Society showing my 'tableaux et
eau-forts'. Included were 80 oil-paintings and 40 'eau-forts' +
monotypes. Beside it I exhibit in Vienna, Berlin, München and
London....»
The artist invites Sagot to his atelier at
Boulevard Montparnasse 83. April 23, 1906. |
|
|
|
| 1907 |
|
Venice. International Exhibition. |
|
Venice |
| 1908 |
|
Circa summer 1908 the artist moves with his
family to Rue
Humboldt 25,
now called Rue Verhaeren. |
|
|
| 1906-1920 |
|
Salon de la Société de la Grafure orginale en
Couleurs. Paris.1906/1907/1908/1909/1910/1911/1912/ 1913/1920 |
|
Paris |
| 1908-1913 |
|
Exposition de la Société des Peintres-Graveurs
Français.
1908/1909/1910/1911/1912/1913. |
|
Paris |
| 1908-1914 |
|
Royal Society of Painters, Etchers and Engravers, London.
(1910?/solo or 08) |
|
London |
| 1910 |
|
Member of the 'Union Internationale des
Beaux-Arts et des Lettres' on May 19, 1910. (Founded in 1905 in Paris by
MM. Paul Adam, Auguste Rodin et Vincent d'Indy). |
|
|
|
1910 |
|
Member of the Royal Society of Painters, Etchers and Engravers,
London. |
|
|
| 1910 |
|
Salzburg |
|
Salzburg |
| 1910 |
|
Solo (sale) exhibition at The Ullrich Salon in Zagreb, founder:
Antun Ullrich (1871-1937).
<<..The exhibition season started with an
international monograph exhibition of the Czech printmaker Tavik
Frantisek Simon, who showed his attractive etchings of scenes in Paris
and Amsterdam...>>
Over 100 prints by the artist were showed. A third was bought by the
owner himself, Antun Ullrich. Today one self-portrait and 40 other
prints by the artist is in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb. |
|
Zagreb |
| 1910 |
|
Solo exhibition 'T.François Šimon ' at George Petit (Galleries
Georges Petit), Paris. 39x Grafures orginales en
Noir et Couleurs. |
|
Paris |
| 1910 |
|
Elected to the Czech Academy of Sciences and
Arts. |
|
|
| 1910 |
|
Albert- Roullier's Art Galleries, Chicago. The first Šimon
exhibition in U.S.A.
(note: beside Matejcek - T.F. Simon 1938, most
sources in books etc. indicated 1909. We believe 1910 is
correct. |
|
Chicago |
| 1911 |
|
Georges Petit (Galleries Georges Petit), Paris 1911. |
|
Paris |
| 1911 |
|
Public Library, New York.
Comment by the curator.
|
|
New York |
1911
|
|
Albert
Roullier's Art Galleries, Chicago, An
Exhibition of Original Etchings in Black and White and in colour, 1911.
Chicago (USA).
With an introduction in the catalogue by Alice Roullier.
(Invitation). |
|
Chicago |
| 1912 |
|
Salon de la Société de la Gravure originale en Couleurs, 2nd salon
in Reims. |
|
Reims |
| 1914 |
|
Outbreak of the war. Šimon is with his family
at that time in Bohemia, they cannot return to Paris. |
|
|
| 1914 |
|
Zagreb. International
print exhibition. |
|
Zagreb |
| 1914/1915 |
|
Frederick Keppel & Co, New-York (USA). With a note on
colour-printing by the artist. December 7th - January 2nd 1915.
4East19thSt. New York. |
|
New York |
| 1914-1918 |
|
Participates in the exhibitions of the Association for Assistance to
Artists (Pomoc), Prague. |
|
Prague |
| 1917 |
|
One of the founders
of the Association of Czech Graphic
Artists "Hollar". |
|
|
| 1917 |
|
Tabor
(Czechia).
Exhibition of Graphics and Books.
Artists: Adamek, Braunerova, Emingerova, Hervert, Herman, Hnilicka,
Honsa, Hurka, Jelinek, Kaspar, Kobliha, Konupek, Kotik, Kubin, Mackova,
Maly, Marak, Pacovsky, Podhajska, Porket, Rabas, Röhling, Silovsky,
V.Stretti, Stretti-Zamponi, Skrbek, T.F.Šimon, Svabinsky, Vachal, Vanac,
Vondrous, Votruba, Wellner, Zitek, Zrzavy. |
|
Tabor |
| 1918-19 |
|
Simon returns after the war to Paris to see
his house and atelier in Rue Humboldt. Everything in the house is still
there how the family left it, only dusty. Vilma and the children do not
return to Paris. The family decides to stay in Prague, after a few
years they move
finally to their villa in Bubeneč. |
|
|
| 1919 |
|
Participates in the exhibit of Czech Art in Paris. This exhibition
was also to see in Venice, Rome, Krakow?, and Belgrade.
(According to
A.Matĕjček, T.F.Šimon
1938, it was to see in Warsaw too).
|
|
Paris |
| 1921 |
|
Participates with Hollar Society in Holland. (Source:
Topicuv Sbornik/ 1923, not mentioned where in Holland). |
|
Holland |
| 1921 |
|
Schwartz Gallery in New York. |
|
New York |
| 1921 |
|
Publication of the book:
Přiručka umęlce-grafika.
Prague 1921. (Handbook of Artist-Etcher).
Victoria & Albert Museum- South
Kensington, Martin Hardie: <<
...The book is charmingly produced, does great credit to publishers -
printers, as yourself... I wonder whether you could not profitable have
an English edition printed chez vous. I am sure the book could have a
good sale.>> April 14, 1922. |
|
|
| First half 1920s? |
|
According to the book T.F. Šimon 'Painter -Etcher' by Arthur Novak,
translated by William Ganson Rose (Cleveland 1926), Henry J. John from
Cleveland organized a touring graphic exhibition. Šimon 's art has
passed through the great cities of U.S.A. (There is not
found exact information on that so far).
|
|
USA |
| 1922 |
|
Moves with his family to the
villa in Bubenec,
Tišine
10 Prague. Design of murals on the house by the artist himself.
|
|
|
| 1922 |
|
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1922. Grahic Art of Czechoslovakia:
exhibition of prints from the private collection of Henry J. John.
http://www.dalnet.lib.mi.us/greenstone/dia/diaExhibitions/1923-7.pdf |
|
Cleveland |
| 1922 |
|
Participates with Hollar Society in Cleveland.
(Source: Topicuv Sbornik/ 1923). |
|
Cleveland |
| 1923-1925 |
|
Carnegie Museum of Pittsburg (USA). |
|
Pittsburg |
|
1923 |
|
Solo exhibition at The Fine Arts Society, London (April 1923).' Watercolours, drawings
and original etchings by T.F. Šimon'. Exhibited 120 artworks (etchings
and drawings). |
|
London |
| 1926 |
|
City Art Museum
St. Louis (USA (photo from the newspaper St. Louis Globe-Democrat,
April 11, 1926). A part of the Carnegie International Exhibition of
Paintings. |
|
St. Louis
U.S.A |
| 1927 |
|
Publication of the book:
Dřevoryt
(Woodcutting), druhá přiručka
umĕlce-grafika.
Prague 1927.
(Handbook of Artist-Woodengraver). |
|
|
| 1927 |
|
Royal
Institute Galleries, Picadilly, London. |
|
London |
| 1927 |
|
Voyage
around the World. Departure from Cherbourg (France) with the ship
Aquittania to New York: September 4, 1927. Arrived (returning) in Marseille on
February 27, 1928. |
|
|
| 1928 |
|
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery in Bournemouth.
Catalogue of the exhibition by "Hollar"
Society of Czech
Graphic Art. Introduction by George Brochner,
March 21st. to April 5th, 1928. This exhibition was on
view in several places in England like in Royal Institute Galleries,
Piccadilly, London 1927. |
|
Bourne-
mouth |
| 1928 |
|
Solo exhibition
at Krasoumna Jednota (Fine Arts Union), Prague.
Graphics, drawings and oil-paintings. |
|
Prague |
| 1928 |
|
Solo exhibition, Hradec Kralové (Czechia). |
|
H. Kralové |
|
1928 |
|
Solo exhibition, Art-Museum in Plzen (Czechia). Graphics, drawings
and oil-paintings. Extended introduction by Dr. J. Cadík.
41 oil-paintings, 1 monotype, 176 graphics, 13 drawings and 4 ex-libris. |
|
Plzen |
| 1928 |
|
Pavilion 'Ales', Brno (Czechia). Exhibition together
with the Czech artist J.C. Vondrous. 'Club des Artistes peintres
et Sculpteurs'. |
|
Brno |
| 1928 |
|
Turnov (Czechia).
Graphic artworks by T.F. Šimon and Medals by
J.Sejnost. |
|
Turnov |
| 1928 |
|
Appointed a Professor at the Academy of Fine
Arts in Prague and publishes after his World travel the book 'Letters
from a voyage around the World'.
«
T.F.Simon, the engraver of cosmopolitan bent and refinement has been
nominated Professor at the Prague Academy of Arts.»
(Announcement in art
magazine The Studio, London, 1928). |
|
|
| 1929 |
|
Hollar Society in
Krakow. |
|
Krakow |
| 1929 |
|
Galerie J. Alexis in Paris. 'Exhibition of original drawings by
T.F. Šimon'. |
|
Paris |
|
1930/31 |
|
Rudolf Lesch Fine Arts, New York 225 Fifth Avenue. 'The etchings of T. F. Šimon'. |
|
New York |
| 1931 |
|
Participates in the exhibit 'France in the paintings of Czech
Artists' in the French Institute (named after the French historian
Ernest Denis). |
|
Prague |
| 1932 |
|
Gallery Feigl, Prague. Prague in modern painting. |
|
|
| 1933 |
|
| Hollar Society in
Obecni Dům
(Municipal House
Hall), Prague. |
| Hollar Society, City Museum of Lwow (Lemberk). |
|
|
Prague |
| 1935 |
Lwow |
| 1935 |
|
Litomerice. Exhibition
of graphical artworks of different Czech artist. (T.F.Š, Hugo Boettinger and others). |
|
Litomerice |
| 1935 |
|
Art gallery 'Frantisek R. Zdarsky', Prague. 24
monotypes (1904-1913) and 11 drawings. |
|
Prague |
|
1938 |
|
Solo exhibition at Pavilion Myslbek, Prague.
Comprehensive exhibit on the occasion of Šimon 's 60th birthday. |
|
Prague |
| 1938 |
|
Solo
exhibition at Sokol in Slany on the occasion of Šimon 's 60th birthday.
Oil paintings and graphics. |
|
Slany |
| 1939 |
|
Society Manes, Prague.
Exhibition of portraits. |
|
Prague |
| 1939 |
|
November 17th, The Academy of Fine Arts
(Akademie výtvarných umení) is closed down (Nazi occupation), the artist
still meets with students in a private studio. |
|
|
1942
|
|
Solo Exhibition at the
school in
Mšeno
and
Železnice
(Šimon
donates a collection of 50 graphics, three oil-paintings, photos and a
few books to the Museum).
|
|
Mseno-Zeleznice |
| 1942 |
|
December 19th: the artist dies in his
house in Bubeneč. |
|
|
|
1983 |
|
Museum
Municipal, Pardubice (Czechia).
Exhibition catalogue by Tomás Rybička. |
|
Pardubice |
| 1986 |
|
British Museum, Czechoslovak prints from 1900 to 1970.
Exhibition catalogue by Irene Goldschneider, London, 1986. |
|
London |
|
1990/91 |
|
Museum Municipal, Liberec (Czechia). |
|
Liberec |
|
1994 |
|
National Gallery
Prague (Kinsky Palace).
Organised by Eva Buzgova.
(45 drawings,167 graphics and 25 oil-paintings. |
|
Prague |
|
2001 |
|
National Gallery, Zlin (Czechia).
Organisation and catalogue (text) by Anna
Grossová. |
|
Zlin |
| 2002 |
|
www.tfsimon.com
Imaginary Museum dedicated to the artist Tavik Frantisek
Šimon.
May-2002. |
|
Internet |
|
2002 |
|
Czech Centre on
Madison Avenue Madison Avenue, New York (USA). From the
collection of William.Ganson Rose (Cleveland), who met Šimon on a trip
in Paris in 1923. |
|
NewYork |
|
2002 |
|
Art Gallery
Frederick Baker, Chicago (USA). Sale
exhibition with a well noted illustrated catalogue. |
|
Chicago |
| 2002 |
|
Museum Gallery of Zeleznice
near Jicin.
Re-opened permanent exhibition of Šimon 's
artworks. |
|
Zeleznice |
|
2004 |
|
Galerie U
Krizovniku, Prague. 'Around the world in 80 pictures'.
Graphics, drawings, and oil-paintings. Illustrated
catalogue. |
|
Prague |
| 2006 |
|
Galerie U Betlemske Kaple,
Prague. Exhibition of
Graphics, drawings, oil-paintings and sketchbooks. |
|
Prague |
| 2007 |
|
Gallery D & lake LTD, The Mews. Toronto/Canada. Sale
exhibition. T.F. Simon, Colour Aquatint & Soft-ground Etchings.
September 20 - November 2007. |
|
Toronto |
| 2007 |
|
Gallery of Modern Art, Hradec Kralové . 'Grafika Symbolistu'.
T.F. Šimon, Frantisek Bilek, Max. Svabinsky, Vojtéch Preissig, Frantisek
Kobliha, Rudolf Adámek, Jan Konupek, Josef Vachal, Jann Zravý. |
|
Hradec- Kralové |
2008/
2009 |
|
Prague City
Gallery-Municipal Library.
'Bytosi
Odnikud'
(Beings
from Nowhere): Metamorphoses of Academic Principles in
Painting in the First Half of the 20th Century in Bohemia.
Organised (+ book) by Marie Rakušanová
(1978).
..focus on the work of the hitherto ignored artists who in the first
half of the twentieth century continued to develop the tradition of the
nineteenth-century academic and Salon painting. Exhibited works by
T.F. Šimon:
1 drawing (study of a nude man) and
4 oil paintings: Girl
with harp (1898-1899- oil on canvas 96,5x143,5cm), Allegory I (1906- oil
on canvas102x94cm), Allegory II (1906- oil on canvas102x94cm),
Karl Spillar and his wife 'The Spillars' (1904- oil on canvas166x89cm). |
|
Prague |
| 2011 |
|
Gallery Felix Jenewein, Kutna Hora (Czechia). 'Czech artists in
Paris' (20-10-2011-18-12-2011).
http://www.gfj.kh.cz/gfj.php?id=172&l=cz |
|
Kutna Hora |
Compilation by Catharine Bentinck
Last update March 2013
Bibliography
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