Nicolas-Francois Gillet French sculptor Date of Birth: 02.03.1709 Country: France

1. French Sculptor in Russian Art
2. Impact on Russian Sculpture
3. Recognition and Departure
4. Works in France and Russia

French Sculptor in Russian Art

Étienne-Maurice Falconet, a notable French sculptor, left a lasting mark on Russian art. As a renowned artist in France and a member of the Paris Academy of Fine Arts, he accepted an invitation from Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov in 1758 to join the newly established Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg.

Impact on Russian Sculpture

As a professor of sculpture for a three-year term, Falconet's influence extended far beyond its intended duration. Over two decades, he mentored talented artists such as Fedor Ivanovich Shubin, Alexei Mikhailovich Gordeev, Fyodor Fyodorovich Shchedrin, and Andrei Petrovich Ivanov. Almost all Russian sculptors who studied at the Academy from 1758 to 1778 passed through his tutelage.

Recognition and Departure

In 1767, Falconet was appointed adjutant-rector of the Academy. However, in 1778, he expressed a desire to return to France, receiving a pension upon his departure.

Works in France and Russia

Falconet's works in France included notable marble statues such as "Paris, Giving the Golden Apple to Venus" (1757; Louvre Museum, Paris) and "Hercules Presenting the Erymanthian Boar to Eurystheus." He also created stone groups like "Zephyr and Flora" and "Vertumnus and Pomona." In Russia, only the portrait bust of Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov remains as a testament to his time there.