César Isidore Henry Cros was born on 16 november 1840 in Narbonne, France. He died on 31 January 1907 in Sevres. He was a painter, sculptor and master French glassmaker
Brother of the poet and inventor Charles Cros, Henry Cros was interested in researching new processes or rediscovering old techniques. We can only admire the subtlety and perfection of these productions which associate a reworking of an imaginary Antiquity or Middle Ages with a comprehensive art as revealed both in the molten glass and drawings. The latter, rarely exhibited, are striking in their freedom and very singular treatment of watercolours : the motif and the reference to Antiquity take on a modernity which almost prefigures Neo-classicism (recalling some of Bourdelle’s fine watercolours). The coloured wax works, close to Charles Cros’ poetic universe and to Symbolism in general, avoid falling into a simple Neo-gothic revival style, no matter how respectable it might be : the technical experimentation and the refined inspiration make them masterpieces of the Symbolist period.