Timeline

1908

Born February 29 in Paris, France as Balthasar Klossowski

1922

Executed some maquettes of settings for a Chinese play he proposed to the Staatstheater in Munich

1930

Spent several weeks with his friends the Wattevilles. He fell in love with Antoinette, and painted her portrait. In October, he was called up to perform his military service in the French army. He was drafted in the 4th régiment de tirailleurs marocains (Moroccan artillery), at Kenitra, on the Atlantic coast of Morocco

1933

rented the studio of the Swiss architect Jeanneret, Le Corbusier's cousin, at 4, Rue de Furstenberg. He became friends with Pierre-Jean Jouve

1936

August: Balthus traveled with Pierre Jean Jouve to Soglio, in Engadine

1937

2 April: married Antoinette de Watteville

1943 - 1946

Spent time in Switzerland, then returned to Paris

1946

Balthus separated permanently from Antoinette and moved back to Paris. November-December: exhibition at the gallery Beaux-Arts organized by Henriette Gomès

1947

Summer: trip with André Masson in the south of France. On the Côte d'Azur met up again with Lacan, Sylvia Bataille, Picasso, Françoise Gillot. On that occasion he met Laurence Bataille of whom he made several portraits. Balthus became friends with Albert Camus and Paul Eluard

1948

Albert Camus asked him to design the sets and costumes for L'Etat de Siège directed by Jean-Louis Barrault

1949

Balthus designed the sets and costumes for Boris Kochno's ballet, Le peintre et son modèle. Exhibition at the Pierre Matisse Gallery in New York, with a preface by Albert Camus. Death of Erich Klossowski, at Sanary

1950

Designed the sets and costumes for Mozart's Così fan tutte for the Festival of Aix-en-Provence, commissioned by Cassandre. Painted the first Etude pour le Passage du Commerce-Saint-André

1954

Moved to the Chateau de Chassy near Autun

1957

Exhibition at the Pierre Matisse Gallery in New York. Painted Golden Afternoon, La Toilette, La Sortie du bain

1961 - 1977

Appointed Director of the Academie de France in Rome

1961

André Malraux, Minister of Culture, appointed Balthus director of the Academy of France in Rome, Villa Medici, despite the opposition of the Institut of which Balthus was not a member

1962

Sent by Malraux on a mission to Japan; there he met Setsuko Ideta. In Rome, became friends with Renato Guttuso, Federico Fellini, Valerio Zurlini, several actors and writers

1967

Balthus and Setsuko Ideta were married in Japan. La Chambre turque and Les Trois sœurs were shown at the Pierre Matisse Gallery in New York. La Chambre turque was purchased by the French state. Balthus began Japonaise au miroir noir and Japonaise à la table rouge

1968

Birth of Fumio, son of Balthus and Setsuko, who would live but two years

1973

Birth of his daughter Harumi. Exhibition at the Musée Cantini of Marseilles

1976

Awarded the Grand Prix National des Arts

1981

appointed member of the Royal Academy of London. Completed Le Peintre et son modèle that was received in the collection of the Musée national d'art moderne of Paris

1998

Went to Poland for the first time. He was made doctor honoris causa of the University of Wroclaw

2001

Died