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Francois RudeFrench sculptor.
Date of Birth: 04.01.1784
Country:  France |
Content:
Biography of François Rude
François Rude was a French sculptor born on January 4, 1784, in Dijon, France. He was the son of a potter and initially followed his father's trade. However, his passion for art led him to pursue a career as a sculptor.
Early Career
At the age of 16, Rude entered the Dijon Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied drawing under the guidance of a local painter named Devos. With a letter of recommendation from Devos, Rude traveled to Paris in 1807 and presented his work, including the statue "Theseus, lifting the discus from the ground," to Baron Vivant Denon, the director of the Imperial Museums. Impressed by his talent, Denon recommended Rude to become a student of the famous sculptor Antoine-Denis Chaudet and later to join the workshop of Pierre Cartellier at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Eminent Works
In 1812, Rude was awarded the Second Roman Prize for sculpture, but due to political circumstances, he was unable to travel to Italy. Instead, he moved to Brussels in 1815, where he found a patron in the renowned painter Louis David. With David's support, Rude received a commission to decorate the La Monnaie Opera House with his sculptural works.
Some of Rude's most notable works from this period include the statues of the Virgin Mary in Saint-Gervais Church, the marble sculpture "Neapolitan fisherman boy playing with a turtle" in the Louvre Museum (1831), the bronze sculpture "Mercury attaching wings to his sandals after killing Argus" (1827), and the marble sculpture "Joan of Arc" (1852), also housed in the Louvre Museum. He also created the group sculpture "The Baptism of Christ" in the Church of Sainte-Madeleine and the bronze sculpture "The Crucifixion" (1852) in the Church of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul.
Rude's other notable works include the marble sculpture "Jupiter's Eagle with Ganymede" and the monumental sculpture "Departure for the Campaign" on the Triumphal Arch of the Star. He also created monuments for Marshal Ney on Avenue de l'Observatoire in Paris, Napoleon I in Fixin near Dijon, General Moncey in Beaune, and Marshal Bertrand in Chatou. Rude's artistic contributions also extended to bas-reliefs such as "Prometheus, animating the arts" in the Legislative Palace and "The Return of the French Army from Egypt" on the Triumphal Arch of the Star. He also created the tombstone of Cavaignac in Montmartre Cemetery and sculpted busts of Laperouse in the Naval Museum and in the Louvre, as well as Prince Maurice of Saxony in the Louvre.
Legacy
François Rude's artistic style was characterized by a combination of classical beauty, vibrant expression, and lifelike forms. While his works were generally admired, some critics found certain pieces less successful, such as the statue of Ney in his Paris monument, which they deemed unattractive, and the composition of the Star Arch relief, which they considered confusing and lacking in liveliness. Nonetheless, Rude's contributions to the world of sculpture continue to be appreciated for their artistic expression and technical skill. He passed away on November 3, 1855, in Paris, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the field of sculpture.
