Leonard Agathon (1841-1923) - Flower Girl And Her Dog

LEONARD Agathon (1841-1923) - Flower Girl and Her Dog - Oil on canvas signed lower left - Old frame gilded with leaves - Canvas size: 46 X 38 cm -Frame size: 55 X 46 cm. 
LEONARD Agathon (1841-1923)


Agathon Léonard Van Weydeveldt, known as Agathon Léonard, French naturalized Belgian sculptor, born in Lille on 28 August 1841. He entered the Académie des Beaux-Arts in his hometown, then exhibited at the Salon de 1868 in Paris, where he settled.

In 1887, Agathon Léonard became a member of the Société des Artistes Français, then left it to become part of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts in 1897. He creates in marble, quartz, bronze or ivory busts, statuettes, medallions and pottery. Leonardo also painted genre scenes with children (usually small in size), although his paintings were overshadowed by his enormous success as a sculptor.

Although she had obtained few orders from the state, Agathon Léonard gained fame during her lifetime thanks to small works representative of Art Nouveau, such as the famous dancers of the "Jeu de l'écharpe" exhibited at the 1900 Paris World Fair. By bringing sculpture closer to goldsmiths, he helped rejuvenate it and introduce it into contemporary life.

Agathon Léonard was appointed a knight of the Legion of Honor in 1900. He died in Paris on 12 November 1923.

References: Benezit; Archives de France.