Alexandre Descatoire
Encyclopedia
Alexandre Descatoire was a French sculptor.
Descatoire was born in Douai
and was a pupil of André-Louis-Adolphe Laoust
. Educated at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts
in Paris, Descatoire was runner up for the Prix de Rome
of 1902.
Much of his work is war memorials. One of the best known is at Douai, inaugurated on the 23rd July 1927. A central bas-relief represents the Victory of the Lion of Flanders, flanked by a crossbowman and a machine gunner. The monument was damaged during bombing on the 11th August 1944 but has been restored. The inclusion of a crossbowman refers back to another dramatic episode in Douaisian history, the Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle
in 1324, when 600 citizens of Douai lost their lives.
Other works by Descatoire include:
Descatoire was born in Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
and was a pupil of André-Louis-Adolphe Laoust
André-Louis-Adolphe Laoust
André-Louis-Adolphe Laoust or André Laoust was a French sculptor....
. Educated at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
in Paris, Descatoire was runner up for the Prix de Rome
Prix de Rome
The Prix de Rome was a scholarship for arts students, principally of painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was created, initially for painters and sculptors, in 1663 in France during the reign of Louis XIV. It was an annual bursary for promising artists having proved their talents by...
of 1902.
Much of his work is war memorials. One of the best known is at Douai, inaugurated on the 23rd July 1927. A central bas-relief represents the Victory of the Lion of Flanders, flanked by a crossbowman and a machine gunner. The monument was damaged during bombing on the 11th August 1944 but has been restored. The inclusion of a crossbowman refers back to another dramatic episode in Douaisian history, the Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle
Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle
The Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle was fought on 18 August 1304 between the French and the Flemish. The French were led by King Philip IV the Fair in person.- Prelude :...
in 1324, when 600 citizens of Douai lost their lives.
Other works by Descatoire include:
- The work “Soldat Du Droit” at the Douaumont ossuaryDouaumont ossuaryThe Douaumont ossuary is a memorial containing the remains of soldiers who died on the battlefield during the Battle of Verdun in World War I. It is located in Douaumont, France, within the Verdun battlefield.-History:...
, circa 1932 - The monument to Mayor Gustave Dron in TourcoingTourcoingTourcoing is a city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Nord.Tourcoing is situated near the cities of Lille and Roubaix and the Belgian border.-Main sights:...
, with architect Édouard Monestès, 1935 - the monument Au Pigeon voyageur, dedicated to the work of carrier pigeons in World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, with architect Jacques Alleman, Lille, 1936 - La Jeunesse, one of the eight gilded figures on the Palais de Chaillot, Paris, 1937
- The monument aux morts at RoubaixRoubaixRoubaix is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is located between the cities of Lille and Tourcoing.The Gare de Roubaix railway station offers connections to Lille, Tourcoing, Antwerp, Ostend and Paris.-Culture:...
- The monument aux morts at CréteilCréteil-Health:As of 1 January 2006, 27 pharmacies, about 60 dentists, about 60 general practitioners, 10 pediatricians, and a half-dozen ophthalmologists and dermatologists constitute the general medical staff of the city.Health facilities include:...
in the Val-de-Marne. This was inaugurated on the 1st November 1922. The monument stands in the avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny. - The Death of Abel, now at the Musée de la Chartreuse de DouaiMusée de la Chartreuse de DouaiThe Musée de la Chartreuse is an art museum in a former Carthusian monastery in Douai. It is the 'musée des Beaux-Arts' for the city.- Building :...
External links
- http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=The_Soldat_Du_Droit. National Archives article on the_memorial_to_Andre_Thome_who_was_killed_in_March_1916.