Prix Chartier

The Prix Chartier was a musical composition prize established in 1859 and awarded by the Académie des beaux-arts of the Institut de France. It was awarded annually from 1861 to 1942 and was intended to reward excellence in chamber music.

History

This prize owes its name and existence to Charles-Hyacinthe-Suzain-Jean Chartier, a music lover living in the commune of Breteil, in the first arrondissement of Paris, who died on 7 July 1858. The funds came from the sale of autograph letters by Nicolas Poussin, purchased from Chartier by the Bibliothèque impériale. In his will, he wrote:
The bequest was validated by imperial decree on 15 January 1859 and formalized at the annual public meeting of the Académie des beaux-arts on 12 October 1861:
The first two recipients were Charles Dancla, for the year 1860, and Louise Farrenc for 1861. Farrenc was also awarded the prize in 1869, and was one of only three women to receive the prize and Henriette Renié ).