Bronze Sculpture by Gabriel Forestier, "Aphrodite"

Bronze sculpture in verdigris patina by Gabriel Forestier (1889-1969), representing "Aphrodite".Signed Gabriel Forestier on the base; also inscribed "Alexis Rudier Fondeur Paris". France Circa 1930 Provenance: Private New York Art Deco collection. Forestier entered the Municipal School of Fine Arts of Bordeaux in 1907. He won the end-of-year competition in 1907 and was authorized to compete for the École Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris where he was permanently admitted in 1908. He settled in Paris. From 1909, at the age of 20, he received his first orders. He exhibited regularly at the Salon of French Artists between 1910 and 1939, and won several medals there. After the war, he obtained several commissions for war memorials across France: He sculpted the War Memorial of La Force, that of Ducey in 1921. In 1922, he made a study trip to Italy and continued his artistic research. He created the war memorials of Bergerac in 1927, and that of his hometown, Eymet. In 1930-1931, he participated in the creation of the large bas-relief for the facade of the Musée des Colonies, for the colonial exhibition of 1931. Returning to Paris, he continued his work. His "Giant Suffocating a Snake" from the Salon of 1934 earned him a gold medal, and he received the grand prize of the International Exhibition of 1937 for the creation of the sculpture of the bronze door of the City's museum of modern art from Paris. He received the title of knight in 1939, then Officer of the Legion of Honor of Arts and Letters in 1949 for his works. He served as a jury at the École des Beaux-Arts between 1939 and 1942. After the war, he created the Sea Horses fountain for Chicago alongside Marcel Loyau.

height

18 in.

condition

Good original condition

Circa 1930