François Pompon
First and last name
François Pompon
Date of birth
1855, Saulieu
Date of death
1933, Paris
François Pompon was a French sculptor, a pioneer of modern stylized animal sculpture. From 1876 he studied under the renowned sculptor Pierre Louis Rouillard at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in Paris. In later years, he became the assistant of Auguste Rodin, who foretold a great career for him. Rodin's words came true, but only in 1922, when Pompon exhibited his stone sculpture, "The Bear in the Stretch" at the Autumn Salon. His monumental bronzes depicting various animals decorate, among others, the square in Arnhem in the Netherlands or his native French Salieu. A large collection of his works can be found in Dijon.