Emmanuel Frémiet
Encyclopedia
Emmanuel Frémiet was a French sculptor
. He is famous for his sculpture of Joan of Arc
in Paris (and its "sister" statues in Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon
) and the monument to Ferdinand de Lesseps
in Suez
.
and chiefly devoted himself to animal sculpture
. His earliest work was in scientific lithography
(osteology
), and for a while he served in times of adversity in the gruesome office of painter to the Morgue. In 1843 he sent to the Salon
a study of a Gazelle
, and after that date worked prolificly. His "Wounded Bear" and "Wounded Dog" were produced in 1850, and the Luxembourg Museum at once secured this striking example of his work.
In the 1850s, Frémiet produced various Napoleonic works. In 1853, Frémiet, "the leading sculptor of animals in his day" exhibited bronze sculptures of Emperor Napoleon III's basset hound
s at the Paris Salon. Soon afterwards, from 1855 to 1859 Frémiet was engaged on a series of military statuettes for Napoleon III
, none of which have survived. He produced his equestrian statue of Napoleon I
in 1868, and of Louis d'Orleans of 1869 (at the Château de Pierrefonds
) and in 1874 the first equestrian statue of Joan of Arc, erected in the Place des Pyramides
, Paris; this he afterwards (1889) replaced with another version. During this period he also executed "Pan
and the bear
cubs", also acquired by the Luxembourg Museum and in the Musée d'Orsay
.
In the meanwhile he had exhibited his "Gorilla Carrying off a Woman" which won him a medal of honour at the Salon
of 1887. Although praised in its time, this work now evokes ridicule from some observers for its depiction of a gorilla
abducting a nude woman, presumably with the intention of raping
her. Accordingly, this act has caught the public's imagination, as witnessed by the repeated popularity of the King Kong
theme.
Of the same character is his "Ourang-Outangs
" and "Borneo Savage" of 1895, a commission from the Paris Museum of Natural History. Frémiet also executed the statue of St Michael
for the summit of the spire of the Eglise St Michel, and the equestrian statue of Velasquez for the Jardin de l'Infante at the Louvre
. Named an Officer of the French Legion of Honor in 1878, he became a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts
in 1892, and succeeded Antoine-Louis Barye
as professor of animal drawing at the Natural History Museum of Paris.
Emmanuel Frémiet died in Paris and was buried in the Cimetière de Louveciennes
.
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
. He is famous for his sculpture of Joan of Arc
Jeanne d'Arc (Frémiet)
Jeanne d'Arc is an equestrian sculpture by Emmanuel Frémiet.It is located at the Place des Pyramides, in Paris, near where Joan of Arc was wounded during her failed attempt to take Paris.The original statue was commissioned by Napoleon III, in 1874...
in Paris (and its "sister" statues in Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
) and the monument to Ferdinand de Lesseps
Ferdinand de Lesseps
Ferdinand Marie, Vicomte de Lesseps, GCSI was the French developer of the Suez Canal, which joined the Mediterranean and Red Seas in 1869, and substantially reduced sailing distances and times between the West and the East.He attempted to repeat this success with an effort to build a sea-level...
in Suez
Suez
Suez is a seaport city in north-eastern Egypt, located on the north coast of the Gulf of Suez , near the southern terminus of the Suez Canal, having the same boundaries as Suez governorate. It has three harbors, Adabya, Ain Sokhna and Port Tawfiq, and extensive port facilities...
.
Life
Born in Paris, he was a nephew and pupil of RudeFrançois Rude
François Rude was a French sculptor. He was the stepfather of Paul Cabet, a sculptor.Born in Dijon, he worked at his father's trade as a stovemaker till the age of sixteen, but received training in drawing from François Devosges, where he learned that a strong, simple contour was an invaluable...
and chiefly devoted himself to animal sculpture
Animalier
An animalier is an artist, mainly from the 19th century, who specializes in, or is known for, skill in the realistic portrayal of animals. "Animal painter" is the more general term for earlier artists...
. His earliest work was in scientific lithography
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
(osteology
Osteology
Osteology is the scientific study of bones. A subdiscipline of anatomy, anthropology, and archeology, osteology is a detailed study of the structure of bones, skeletal elements, teeth, morphology, function, disease, pathology, the process of ossification , the resistance and hardness of bones , etc...
), and for a while he served in times of adversity in the gruesome office of painter to the Morgue. In 1843 he sent to the Salon
Paris Salon
The Salon , or rarely Paris Salon , beginning in 1725 was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Between 1748–1890 it was the greatest annual or biannual art event in the Western world...
a study of a Gazelle
Gazelle
A gazelle is any of many antelope species in the genus Gazella, or formerly considered to belong to it. Six species are included in two genera, Eudorcas and Nanger, which were formerly considered subgenera...
, and after that date worked prolificly. His "Wounded Bear" and "Wounded Dog" were produced in 1850, and the Luxembourg Museum at once secured this striking example of his work.
Basset Hound
The Basset Hound is a short-legged breed of dog of the hound family. They are scent hounds, bred to hunt rabbits and hare by scent. Their sense of smell for tracking is second only to that of the Bloodhound....
s at the Paris Salon. Soon afterwards, from 1855 to 1859 Frémiet was engaged on a series of military statuettes for Napoleon III
Napoleon III of France
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte was the President of the French Second Republic and as Napoleon III, the ruler of the Second French Empire. He was the nephew and heir of Napoleon I, christened as Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte...
, none of which have survived. He produced his equestrian statue of Napoleon I
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
in 1868, and of Louis d'Orleans of 1869 (at the Château de Pierrefonds
Château de Pierrefonds
The Château de Pierrefonds is a castle situated in the commune of Pierrefonds in the Oise département of France. It is on the southeast edge of the Forest of Compiègne, north of Paris, between Villers-Cotterêts and Compiègne....
) and in 1874 the first equestrian statue of Joan of Arc, erected in the Place des Pyramides
Place des Pyramides
Place des Pyramides is a public square in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France. It is located in the middle of the Rue de Rivoli, at its intersection with the Rue des Pyramides and Avenue du General Lemonnier, at the western end of the Tuileries Garden....
, Paris; this he afterwards (1889) replaced with another version. During this period he also executed "Pan
Pan (mythology)
Pan , in Greek religion and mythology, is the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature, of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music, as well as the companion of the nymphs. His name originates within the Greek language, from the word paein , meaning "to pasture." He has the hindquarters, legs,...
and the bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
cubs", also acquired by the Luxembourg Museum and in the Musée d'Orsay
Musée d'Orsay
The Musée d'Orsay is a museum in Paris, France, on the left bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, an impressive Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1915, including paintings, sculptures, furniture,...
.
In the meanwhile he had exhibited his "Gorilla Carrying off a Woman" which won him a medal of honour at the Salon
Paris Salon
The Salon , or rarely Paris Salon , beginning in 1725 was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Between 1748–1890 it was the greatest annual or biannual art event in the Western world...
of 1887. Although praised in its time, this work now evokes ridicule from some observers for its depiction of a gorilla
Gorilla
Gorillas are the largest extant species of primates. They are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorillas are divided into two species and either four or five subspecies...
abducting a nude woman, presumably with the intention of raping
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
her. Accordingly, this act has caught the public's imagination, as witnessed by the repeated popularity of the King Kong
King Kong
King Kong is a fictional character, a giant movie monster resembling a gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933. These include the groundbreaking 1933 movie, the film remakes of 1976 and 2005, as well as various sequels of the first two films...
theme.
Of the same character is his "Ourang-Outangs
Orangutan
Orangutans are the only exclusively Asian genus of extant great ape. The largest living arboreal animals, they have proportionally longer arms than the other, more terrestrial, great apes. They are among the most intelligent primates and use a variety of sophisticated tools, also making sleeping...
" and "Borneo Savage" of 1895, a commission from the Paris Museum of Natural History. Frémiet also executed the statue of St Michael
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
for the summit of the spire of the Eglise St Michel, and the equestrian statue of Velasquez for the Jardin de l'Infante at the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
. Named an Officer of the French Legion of Honor in 1878, he became a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts
Académie des beaux-arts
The Académie des Beaux-Arts is a French learned society. It is one of the five academies of the Institut de France.It was created in 1795 as the merger of the:* Académie de peinture et de sculpture...
in 1892, and succeeded Antoine-Louis Barye
Antoine-Louis Barye
Antoine-Louis Barye was a French sculptor most famous for his work as an animalier, a sculptor of animals.-Biography:Born in Paris, Barye began his career as a goldsmith, like many sculptors of the Romantic Period...
as professor of animal drawing at the Natural History Museum of Paris.
Emmanuel Frémiet died in Paris and was buried in the Cimetière de Louveciennes
Cimetière de Louveciennes
The Cimetière de Louveciennes is made up of a standard laid out cemetery and a landscaped cemetery located on the Allée des Arches in the village of Louveciennes in the Yvelines département of France...
.
External links
- Emmanuel Fremiet at Insecula (it may be necessary to close an advertising banner to view the page)