François Pompon
Biography1855 - 1933
About the artist
François Pompon was a French sculptor from Salieu who was born in 1855. He took evening courses in architecture and sculpture at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Dijon between 1870 and 1875 and soon started to work as a stonecutter who produced funeral monuments.
After moving to Paris in 1876 he started following evening courses at the Ecole nationale des Arts Décoratifs. To earn money in order to pay his tuition fees, he kept working on funeral monuments for a company in Montparnasse. He exhibited his work at the Salon for the first time in 1879. In 1880, he would work on architectural decorations in Paris, after large parts of the city were damaged by war. From 1890 to 1895, he would work with Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel.
Around 1901, Pompon began to make sculptures of animals, working in the open air. Only in 1912, Pompon would predominantly make human figures again. When the First World War was over, museums started collecting his work. In 1919 and 1922, he would have exhibitions with his sculpture 'The White Bear', that was received exceptionally well. At the age of 67, he was finally successful. Pompon died in 1933 while still receiving honors and exhibitions. He left all his work to the state of France. His sculptures were divided between multiple museums in France.
After moving to Paris in 1876 he started following evening courses at the Ecole nationale des Arts Décoratifs. To earn money in order to pay his tuition fees, he kept working on funeral monuments for a company in Montparnasse. He exhibited his work at the Salon for the first time in 1879. In 1880, he would work on architectural decorations in Paris, after large parts of the city were damaged by war. From 1890 to 1895, he would work with Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel.
Around 1901, Pompon began to make sculptures of animals, working in the open air. Only in 1912, Pompon would predominantly make human figures again. When the First World War was over, museums started collecting his work. In 1919 and 1922, he would have exhibitions with his sculpture 'The White Bear', that was received exceptionally well. At the age of 67, he was finally successful. Pompon died in 1933 while still receiving honors and exhibitions. He left all his work to the state of France. His sculptures were divided between multiple museums in France.
