François Girardon

Hyacinthe Rigaud :
"François Girardon" (private collection)

François Girardon (born March 17, 1628 in Troyes , today in the Aube department , † September 1, 1715 in Paris ) was a French sculptor .

Girardon initially worked in Paris in the studio of the sculptor François Anguier and later went to Rome . On his return in 1650 he was appointed the first inspector of sculptures . In 1659 he was appointed professor at the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture and in 1695 he also became chancellor there. François Girardon died on September 1, 1715 in Paris at the age of 87.

reception

Girardon is one of the most important artists of his time. He was one of the leading artists who played a key role in the design and sculptural decoration of the palace and park in Versailles . He was considered excellent in composition and in the expressive representation of the heads. Most of his works also show a thorough study of antiquity, and as a result, Girardon was considered far more popular in contemporary art criticism in France than Gian Lorenzo Bernini , who followed a typically Italian high-movement Baroque ideal, while in France a more moderate classicist style was cultivated.

From a nationalistic point of view of German-speaking authors of the 19th century it was once criticized that one had to deny him "wealth of invention and criticize his overly theatrical manner of representation" and one looks for "deeper spiritual expression ... with Girardon in vain" (see references). This ultimately very derogatory criticism is probably born of nationalism, which was not unusual in the last quarter of the 19th century. Over 100 years later, various of his works are ranked among the most important in the history of sculpture.

Works (selection)

①
②
③
④
⑤
⑥

① Tomb of Cardinal Richelieu in the Sorbonne church .
② Statues in the Bains d'Apollon at Versailles together with Thomas Regnaudin .
③ The Rape of Proserpine at Colonnade (Versailles) .
④ L'Hiver (winter) in the shape of an old man (in the park at Versailles).
⑤ The Saturn Basin, also in the Versailles Park.
⑥ Statue of Hannibal in the Tuileries Garden ( Paris ).

literature

Antoine H. Corrad de Breban: Notice sur la vie et les œuvres de Girardon . Edition Fèvre, Troyes 1850
Joseph Manca, Patrick Bade and others: "1000 Masterpieces of Sculpture" . Parkstone International, 2014, ISBN 978-1-78310-409-3 , pp. 298 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
Hans-Jürgen Döpp, Joe A. Thomas, Victoria: "1000 Erotic Masterpieces" . Parkstone International, 2008, ISBN 978-1-78310-409-3 , pp. 185 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
Artemis Klidis: "François Girardon" . VDG, 2001, ISBN 978-3-89739-213-7 .

Web links

Commons : François Girardon - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Louvre

JPG Louis XIV. H .: 1.02 m .; L .: 0.98 m .; Pr .: 0.50 m.
JPG Mater Dolorosa Marble H .: 0.85 m .; L .: 0.65 m .; Pr .: 0.10 m.
JPG Nicolas Boileau , dit Despréaux (1636–1711) Marble H .: 0.90 m .; L .: 0.68 m .; Pr .: 0.30 m. Ein Franz: poet and critic
JPG Saint Jean-Baptiste Bronze H .: 0.36 m .; L .: 0.18 m .; Pr .: 0.23 m.
JPG Vase du triomphe d ' Amphitrite marble H .: 1.05 m.
JPG Vase du triomphe de Galatée marble h .: 1.05 m.
JPG Enlèvement de Proserpine by Pluton Bronze H .: 0.57 cm .; L .: 0.25 cm .; l .: 0.26 cm.
JPG Juno Bronze H .: 0.60 m.
JPG Jupiter Bronze H: 0.72 m.

personal data
SURNAME	Girardon, François
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	French sculptor
DATE OF BIRTH	March 17, 1628
PLACE OF BIRTH	Troyes
DATE OF DEATH	September 1, 1715
Place of death	Paris