Sculpture - The Improviser By Félix Maurice Charpentier (1858-1924) - Bronze XIXth Century

Bronze proof depicting a young man , playing the transverse flute , called the " IMPROVISATEUR " by Félix Maurice Charpentier .
Bronze with brown patina .
Signature of the sculptor " Félix Charpentier ", in hollow, followed by the date " 1887 " on the right plinth (The first editions bear the date 1887) .
Bronze titled on the front plinth " IMPROVISATEUR ".
Old cast iron .
19th century period .
Very good state of preservation and patina .

The work of Félix Charpentier , who excels in portraits and the representation of nudes , is inspired by Antique sculpture .
His works are characterized by the precision of the anatomical details and the expression of the movement of the bodies .

Félix Maurice Charpentier (1858-1924)

Maurice Félix Charpentier (1858-1924) known as Félix Charpentier was a French sculptor .

He was born in Bollène , in the department of Vaucluse , on January 10 , 1858 .
First student of the School of Fine Arts in Avignon , then in 1877 , of the National School of Fine Arts in Paris , in the Atelier of Pierre-Jules Cavelier and Amédée Doublemard .
He will present his works for the first time at the Salon of French Artists in 1879 , where he will then exhibit each year .

From 1882 , he exhibited a number of allegories , including the best known , " The Improviser " (plaster statue , from 1887) , which was later published in bronze .
Awarded a silver medal at the Universal Exhibition of 1889 , his notoriety then continued to grow .
Charpentier exhibited that same year at the Salon the plaster of " The Song " , then received in 1890 , the first class medal and the Salon prize for his marble from this work .

In 1893 , F. Charpentier was awarded the Medal of Honor for the " Wrestlers " marble , acquired by the State and adorning the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville in Bollène , his hometown .
From this date , the State ordered several public monuments from him, whether it was the decoration of the Gare of Lyon in Paris , or the bas-relief , "Contemporary Art ", for the facade of the Grand Palais in Paris .

Appointed Knight of the Legion of Honour since 1892 , following the inauguration of the Monument of the centenary of the annexation of Avignon and Comtat Venaissin to France , Charpentier was promoted to officer of the Légion d'honneur in 1901.
In 1899 , Austria awarded Félix Charpentier the Grand Gold Medal at the Vienna International Triennial Exhibition for the " Sleeping Globe " .

We owe him many statues preserved in several National Museums , such as " The Shooting Star " (Nimes Museum of Fine Arts) .
Charpentier's works also adorn many public gardens .