François Girardon

François Girardon (* March 17, 1628 in Troyes, Aube Dépt; . † September 1, 1715 in Paris) was a French sculptor.

Girardon initially worked in Paris in the studio of the sculptor François Anguier and went to Rome later. After his return he was appointed in 1650 for the first inspector of the sculptures. 1659 he was appointed as a professor at the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture and in 1695 he became also Chancellor. At the age of 87 years François Girardon died on 1 September 1715 in Paris.

Reception

Girardon is one of the most important artists of his time, and must if you deny him also wealth of invention and blame his overly theatrical presentation. He was regarded as excellent in composition as well as in more expressive representation of the heads. Most of his works can also be a thorough study of the antique recognize and thus was far more important than Gian Lorenzo Bernini Girardon contemporary art criticism. But deeper spiritual expression in vain even in Girardon.

Works (selection)

• The tomb of Cardinal Richelieu in the church of the Sorbonne,
• The statues in the Bains d' Apollon at Versailles with Thomas Regnaudin,
• The Rape of Proserpina to colonnade (Versailles )
• L' Hiver ( winter ) in the form of an old man ( in the park at Versailles ).