Henry Brintnell Bounetheau

Background

Henry Brintnell Bounetheau was born on December 14, 1797, in Charleston, South Carolina. He was the son of Peter Bounetheau, an officer of Huguenot descent who fought in the American Revolution.

Education

Fraser while still a boy was condemned to the study of law whereas Bounetheau studied art early in life.

Career

Little is known of his life except that Bounetheau devoted his entire time to art for a period only and remained to the end a business man who spent a portion of each day painting excellent miniatures.

At a first glance, indeed, Bounetheau's miniatures might be taken easily for those painted by Fraser during his later years. The miniatures of both men are generally rectangular in shape.

Both men posed the sitter in about the same position. Both frequently introduced a conventional column in the background. Fraser's work, however, became more vigorous and he painted with dashing, straight strokes as he grew older, while Bounetheau from beginning to end generally used an effective method of stippling. Bounetheau had the advantage of Fraser in his early training.

About the age of sixteen, he went into business and worked for the firm of Dart & Spear. His reliability, accuracy, and general personal integrity were recognized by his fellow citizens and he later became an officer in the Bank of Charleston. After leaving the firm of Dart & Spear, he went into business for himself, becoming a partner in the firm of Hamilton, Son & Company.

It is not known for what reason, but it is a matter of fact that the partnership was dissolved at the end of two years. Bounetheau then took "to miniature painting for support, and displayed so much skill that his pictures soon became the rage, " according to a newspaper obituary. He finally became the chief accountant for the C. N. Hubert Company, holding this position for the rest of his life.

Bounetheau died in Charleston, South Carolina.

Achievements

• Henry Bounetheau managed to produce a considerable amount of work and although his likenesses never went above a high respectable average, he will be remembered as a competent craftsman who carried on the tradition of his fellow townsman, Charles Fraser. Among the portraits which he painted, two, those of Charles C. Pinckney and Nathaniel Greene, were engraved, the first being engraved by Longacre and the second by A. B. Durand. Other portraits by Bounetheau are those of Charles Austin Pringle, Dr. T. L. Ogier, Henry Heyward Manigault, William Ravenel, and the Hon. James R. Pringle.

Connections

Bounetheau was married to Julia Clarkson Dupré. Bounetheau's son, Henry Dupré Bounetheau, lost his life in the great fire at Jacksonville, Florida, 1901, in which, also, many miniatures by his father were burned. But in spite of this disaster there still remain numerous miniatures by Bounetheau.

Father:

Peter Bounetheau

Wife:

Julia Clarkson Dupré

Son:

Henry Dupré Bounetheau