François-emile Popineau (1887-1951)

"Dancer Messaouda" Bronze proof with strongly nuanced brown Signed on the terrace Fonte Susse Frères Publishers Paris Circa 1925/30 Height: 39 cm Biography: François-Émile Popineau was born on October 2, 1887 in Saint Amand Montrond in the Cher. Very young, he shows a disposition for drawing and modelling. After a brief initiation in Bourges, he came to Paris where he studied with Antoine Bourdelle and received advice from Aristide Maillol. He made his debut at the SNBA in 1912 where he exhibited already modern academies. After the war, he returned to Paris and moved to 55, rue Lhomond where he lived all his life, dividing his time between Paris and Bourges where he held a position as professor of sculpture at the School of Fine Arts. In 1922, he obtained a prize from the Compagnie de navigation mixte and went to stay in Algeria from where he brought back various subjects of oriental inspiration, in particular Aïcha and Messaouda who were to enjoy a certain success with the public. In 1924, it was a travel grant from the Conseil Supérieur des Beaux-Arts that rewarded him and allowed him to stay again in North Africa. In Paris he exhibits regularly in the main Salons: at the SNBA, at the Salon des Tuileries, at the Salon d'Automne and at the Indépendants. He obtained a gold medal at the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in 1935 and the Puvis de Chavannes prize for La Baigneuse in 1937. After the war of 1914, he received several commissions for War memorials (in Bourges, Place de Verdun), then will gradually become a specialty of life-size female nudes intended for the decoration of gardens and fountains which will be very popular with the public. For Bourges, he produced a monumental frieze, representation of La Danse (10.80 x 2.80 m), intended for the decoration of the Maison du Peuple (later Maison de la Culture) and still in place, as well as La Femme to the carp installed in the middle of a pond at Prés Fichaux, to a Diane surprised for the same park around 1930. After the war of 1939-1945, he received a last order for the monument to the dead erected Place du 8 mai 1945 , France breaking her chains. He died of silicosis (a stonemason's disease) in Paris on March 29, 1951 and was buried in the Kremlin Bicêtre cemetery under a sculpture made by him, "Figure of an Angel". Sold with invoice and certificate Very good state of preservation General delivery conditions: We organize delivery worldwide. An estimate on request will be established at the time of your purchase. Paris-Manaus Gallery