Charcoal Drawing By Henri Dubois Dated 1881

Chris · April 19th, 2009, 11:06 PM

My Great, Great Grandfather Was Henri Dubois. I Just Wish I knew WHICH Henri Dubois. Attached is a charcoal drawing he did and signed and dated of the late actress Sarah Bernahart signed Henri Dubois and dated 1881. I know his family did alot of work with bronze. I can't match up the style or signature with anything...help! (Please).

John · April 20th, 2009, 01:23 PM

Very nice sketch. Also, that's a heck of a signature. :-)

I think you're probably looking for Henri Pierre Hippolyte Dubois (1837-1890). This is the only Henri Dubois listed in the Getty ULAN database. His work looks fairly academic (i.e. formal, conventional), broadly similar to the sketch you have.
http://www.getty.edu/vow/ULANFullDisplay?find=&role=&nation=&subjectid=5000 94598

P.S. It appears that this artist may have gone by "Hippolyte" rather than "Henri". If this is the same person, you might have more luck searching under that name.

Chris · April 21st, 2009, 07:40 AM

Thanks for kind words on the sketch, I also think it's great. Also, that signature sure does appear to be "one of a kind", that's probably why I can't seem to match it up with any other artwork by any other Henri Dubois. Unfortunately, My Aunt (his great Grandaughter) was born in 1933, and my Mother (also, his great Grandaughter), was born in 1943. This Henri Dubois died in between those years. His Grandaughter (Bertha Kay) and his Daughter (Emily Wheeler), both passed away in the early '70's by the time I was 10 years old....My search continues...Chris

John · April 21st, 2009, 11:32 AM

BTW, Artnet and some other sources have HPH Dubois passing away in 1909. Sometimes these death dates are incorrect. If an artist disappears from the public record, sometimes a date will be simply an educated guess or the last known time that the artist was alive. This is probably not the same person, but if he had lived into his nineties then it's possible.

P.S. Findartinfo.com has a substantial list of artists, and they list 2 other potentials: Ernest Henri Dubois (1863 - 1931) and Henri Jean Dubois (unknown dates). They apparently have images of a couple of works by the former, presumably scanned from a sales catalog, but you have to take out a short-term membership ($5) to view them.

Chris · April 21st, 2009, 07:18 PM

John: I want to thank you for every moment of thought you have put toward my quest. It's such a shame that such a talented person as my Great, Great Grandfather would of disappeared without a trace. He built the home in Staten Island where my Mother grew up, actually hand carved the banister in the home very ornately. Made candlabras out of bronze, carved my Grandmother's dog's feet into a lamp base. Tried to teach my Grandmother art by making her draw hands, noses, & eyes until they were perfect. He was a jeweler. a bronze medal maker. He is buried somewhere in Long Island N.Y..I visit his Daughter's grave (my Great Grandma) and his Great Grandaughter's grave (my Grandma), and his Son's grave (Gaston A. Chenot) all the time. What may seem so little to others, means so much to me. Again, Thank You!

Chris · April 21st, 2009, 07:29 PM

P.S. John: I have "applied" for tickets to The Antiques Roadshow that is being held in Atlantic City N.J. on June 6th, 2009. I hope to find out some more info. there if selected. Certainly, I'm bringing the sketch. Keep your fingers crossed for me! ...Chris

John · April 22nd, 2009, 01:52 PM

Good luck. Hey, if you make it on-camera, come back & let us know. Our family loves that show.

Chris · May 26th, 2009, 07:45 AM

Well John...No tickets to the up-coming Antiques Roadshow this year (I wasn't selected). But, I have some new news on THIS Henri Dubois. He was buried in 1938 in Moravian Cemetery in Staten Island N.Y..He rests with Alexandrina Dubois (d. 1896) and Bertha Dubois (d. 1929). I gather that Bertha was his wife as was my Grandmother's name also (Bertha Kay). I have written to the historian at the cemetery and will soon obtain interment records on all three names....getting closer! The historian from Moravian Cemetery spelled the name Henry Dubois, which has me baffled somewhat, but closer none the less. I'll be back soon.

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April 20th, 2009, 01:23 PM	#2
John John Malyon, host Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,400	Very nice sketch. Also, that's a heck of a signature. :-) I think you're probably looking for Henri Pierre Hippolyte Dubois (1837-1890). This is the only Henri Dubois listed in the Getty ULAN database. His work looks fairly academic (i.e. formal, conventional), broadly similar to the sketch you have. http://www.getty.edu/vow/ULANFullDisplay?find=&role=&nation=&subjectid=5000 94598 P.S. It appears that this artist may have gone by "Hippolyte" rather than "Henri". If this is the same person, you might have more luck searching under that name.

April 21st, 2009, 07:40 AM	#3
Chris Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 8	Thanks for kind words on the sketch, I also think it's great. Also, that signature sure does appear to be "one of a kind", that's probably why I can't seem to match it up with any other artwork by any other Henri Dubois. Unfortunately, My Aunt (his great Grandaughter) was born in 1933, and my Mother (also, his great Grandaughter), was born in 1943. This Henri Dubois died in between those years. His Grandaughter (Bertha Kay) and his Daughter (Emily Wheeler), both passed away in the early '70's by the time I was 10 years old....My search continues...Chris

April 21st, 2009, 11:32 AM	#4
John John Malyon, host Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,400	BTW, Artnet and some other sources have HPH Dubois passing away in 1909. Sometimes these death dates are incorrect. If an artist disappears from the public record, sometimes a date will be simply an educated guess or the last known time that the artist was alive. This is probably not the same person, but if he had lived into his nineties then it's possible. P.S. Findartinfo.com has a substantial list of artists, and they list 2 other potentials: Ernest Henri Dubois (1863 - 1931) and Henri Jean Dubois (unknown dates). They apparently have images of a couple of works by the former, presumably scanned from a sales catalog, but you have to take out a short-term membership ($5) to view them.

April 21st, 2009, 07:18 PM	#5
Chris Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 8	John: I want to thank you for every moment of thought you have put toward my quest. It's such a shame that such a talented person as my Great, Great Grandfather would of disappeared without a trace. He built the home in Staten Island where my Mother grew up, actually hand carved the banister in the home very ornately. Made candlabras out of bronze, carved my Grandmother's dog's feet into a lamp base. Tried to teach my Grandmother art by making her draw hands, noses, & eyes until they were perfect. He was a jeweler. a bronze medal maker. He is buried somewhere in Long Island N.Y..I visit his Daughter's grave (my Great Grandma) and his Great Grandaughter's grave (my Grandma), and his Son's grave (Gaston A. Chenot) all the time. What may seem so little to others, means so much to me. Again, Thank You!

April 21st, 2009, 07:29 PM	#6
Chris Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 8	P.S. John: I have "applied" for tickets to The Antiques Roadshow that is being held in Atlantic City N.J. on June 6th, 2009. I hope to find out some more info. there if selected. Certainly, I'm bringing the sketch. Keep your fingers crossed for me! ...Chris

April 22nd, 2009, 01:52 PM	#7
John John Malyon, host Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,400	Good luck. Hey, if you make it on-camera, come back & let us know. Our family loves that show.

May 26th, 2009, 07:45 AM	#8
Chris Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 8	Well John...No tickets to the up-coming Antiques Roadshow this year (I wasn't selected). But, I have some new news on THIS Henri Dubois. He was buried in 1938 in Moravian Cemetery in Staten Island N.Y..He rests with Alexandrina Dubois (d. 1896) and Bertha Dubois (d. 1929). I gather that Bertha was his wife as was my Grandmother's name also (Bertha Kay). I have written to the historian at the cemetery and will soon obtain interment records on all three names....getting closer! The historian from Moravian Cemetery spelled the name Henry Dubois, which has me baffled somewhat, but closer none the less. I'll be back soon.