The Shooting Star - Sculpture In Bronze By Félix Maurice Charpentier, Circa 1897

The shooting star is represented by a woman with closed eyes, wearing a golden star, sitting on a cloud. The whole rests on a quadrangular marble pedestal with inward angles.

Shooting star was exhibited at the Salon des artistes français in 1897 in Paris at the Palais de l'Industrie et des Beaux-Arts, with great success.

Louis Albin wrote in July 1900: is it a messenger arriving from space where times are dying out, where the future is moving, who, lively and supple, glides or, supple and slow, passes with her long closed eyelashes whose mystery moves.

No! It is the winged dream of a gentle artist's spirit;

No! It is the line in its noble purity;

No! It is in the metal that vainly resists the glory of the form in all its beauty.

French work

Circa 1897

Félix Maurice Charpentier (1858-1924)

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

He was born in Bollène, in the Vaucluse department, on January 10, 1858.
First a student at the École des Beaux-Arts in Avignon, then in 1877, at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris, in the studio of Pierre-Jules Cavelier and Amédée Doublemard.
He presented his works for the first time at the Salon des Artistes français in 1879, where he exhibited every year thereafter.

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

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

Named Knight of the Legion of Honor 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 Legion of Honor in 1901.
In 1899, Austria awarded Félix Charpentier the grand gold medal at the International Triennial Exhibition in Vienna for the "Sleeping Globe".

He is responsible for many statues preserved in several National Museums, such as "The Shooting Star" (Museum of Fine Arts in Nîmes).
Charpentier's works also adorn many public gardens.

Titles and medals
1880 2nd medal for figure modeled after the antique at the School of Fine Arts in Paris. 1882 3rd medal for modeled after nature at the School of Fine Arts in Paris.
Salon des Artistes Français, honorable mention for Le Repos du Moissonneur. 1883 Honorable mention for Le Réveil patriotique. 1884 Salon des Artistes Français, 3rd class medal for the plaster of Le Jeune Faune. 1885 2nd medal for sketch in the round at the School of Fine Arts in Paris. 1886 Following his admission to the lodge for the Prix de Rome, he was not a winner and ranked 3rd in the list. 1887 Prix de tête d'expression at the School of Fine Arts in Paris.
Salon des Artistes Français, 2nd class medal for L’Improvisateur which also awarded him a travel grant to travel to Italy and Spain the following year. 1889 Silver medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris for L’Improvisateur. 1890 Salon des Artistes Français, 1st class medal and Salon prize for two works, La
Chanson in marble and the plaster of the group Les Lutteurs. 1892 Decorated with the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour on the occasion of the inauguration of the monument La Réunion du Comtat Venaissin to France. 1893 Salon des Artistes Français, medal of honour for the marble of Les Lutteurs. This is the highest distinction that can be awarded by the Jury. 1899 Grand gold medal of the Austrian State for Le Globe endormi presented at the International Triennial Exhibition in Vienna. 1900 Grand Prix de la Sculpture. The gold medal of the Universal Exhibition in Paris is awarded to Félix Charpentier.
1902 Promoted to the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor. 1908 He is appointed a member of the Higher Council of Fine Arts. 1909 Charpentier becomes a member of the purchasing committee for exhibitions organized by the Society of French Artists and the National Society of Fine Arts.
1913 He is appointed a member of the Jury at the Salon des Artistes Français. He will be appointed again in 1920.
1920 His friends encourage him to apply to the Institute.
1924 Charpentier was asked to paint a portrait of the newly elected President of the Republic, Gaston Doumergue. He died in Paris on December 7. He was buried in the Chassant cemetery in Eure-et-Loir.