The Jacobs' saga - Biography

Years

What happened

1876

On July 12th Max Jacob was born in Quimper. His family owned 2 shops : a menswear shop and an antique shop.

1887

Max Jacob attended a grammar school. He obtained the school prizes in 1893 and 1894.

1888

Alexandre was replaced by Jacob, Max’s mother’s surname.

1893

Max got a philosophy prize.

1895

He enrolled in Paris Colonial School which he left in 1897 for an artistic career.

1898

He became an art critic for Moniteur des Arts under the pseudonym of Léon David.

1901

Meeting with Pablo Picasso in Paris.

1902

Max Jacob was successively a clerk in a lawyer’s office, a preceptor, a storeman. He shared a room with Picasso, Boulevard Voltaire.

1903

Meeting with André Salmon. First edition of Histoire du roi Kaboul Ier et du marmiton Gauvain.

1904

Picasso introduced Apollinaire to Max Jacob.

1907

He lived at Number 7, rue Ravignan. He met the painters and poets from Bateau-Lavoir. Apollinaire introduced him to Braque.

1909

He had his first vision of the Christ and converted to catholicism.

1911

He settled 13, rue Ravignan in the studio where André Salmon and Pierre Mac-Orlan lived previously. Kahnweiler published Saint-Matorel illustrated by Picasso.

1912

Kahnweiler published Œuvres burlesques et mystiques du frère Matorel, illustrated by Derain.

1913

He spent the summer in Céret with Braque, Picasso, Juan Gris.

1914

Invalided out of the army, he lived in Paris and acted as a go-between between his mobilized friends. Le Siège de Jérusalem illustrated by Picasso, was published.

1915

On Feb 18th, Cyprien Max Jacob was baptized at the couvent of Sion. Picasso was his godfather.

1916

He saw a lot of Montparnasse. Modigliani made a portrait of him. Les alliés sont en Arménie.

1917

He participated in the choirs of his friends Apollinaire’s surrealistic drama : Les Mamelles de Tirésias. Publication of Le Cornet à Dés at author’s expense.

1918

Le Phanérogame.

1919

Pierre Bertin produced a comedy by Max Jacob, Ruffian toujours, truand jamais. Publication of La Défense de Tartufe.

1920

Exhibition of gouaches.

1921

Max Jacob settled in Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire, and lived at the monastery. Publication of Le Laboratoire central, Dos d’Arlequin, Matorel en province, Le Roi de Béotie, Ne coupez pas Mademoiselle ou les erreurs des PTT (illustrated by Juan Gris). 

1922

Le Terrain Bouchaballe, Art Poétique, Le Cabinet Noir, Poèmes burlesques.

1923

La Couronne de Vulcain.

1924

Visions infernales.

1925

Les pénitents en maillots roses.

1926

He participates in La Ligne de cœur under the name of Morven le Gaélique.

1927

He came back to äris and published Fond de l’eau.

1928

He lived in the hotel rue Nollet where the musician Henri Sauguet lived.

1930

He met Jean Moulin, who was the sous-préfet of Châteaulin. 

1933

He became Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur.

1936

He recited his poems on the stage of Noctambules. He exhibited his gouaches in the gallery Christian Dior had just opened. He settled for good in Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire.

1942

In April, last trip to Quimper for his sister’s funeral.

1943

Picasso visited him in Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire. His brother was deported to Auschwitz.

1944

His sister Mirthé-Léa and her husband were deported. Max arrested on Feb 24th, put into Orleans prison and transferred to Drancy on Feb 28th. Died on March 5th from pneumonia. First buried in Ivry, his corpse was transferred to Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire cemetery on March 5th 1945.

 



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