Friday 31 October 2014

The sculptor François Pompon



François Pompon (Bronze) by Henri Martinet (1893 – 1965) - Musée La Piscine

The sculptor François Pompon (9 May 1855 – 6 May 1933) was a French sculptor and animalier. His style is based on very fluid and pure forms.




The White Bear (Marble) by François Pompon – Orsay Museum, Paris [Source: Wikimedia]


"The White Bear" (also known as "Polar Bear in Stride ") is Pompon’s most famous sculpture. The original is located at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris and several reproductions exist, like the one below in the Valencienne museum.



The White Bear (Cast in polished plaster dated 1939) by François Pompon (Fine Arts Museum Valenciennes, France)

The Museum La Piscine in Roubaix holds several sculptures by Pompon, including a small version in plaster of The White Bear and a life-size bronze of a deer.


The White Bear (plaster) – On loan from the Saint-Omer museum



The Big Deer – 1929 (bronze) – Musée La Piscine, on loan from the Orsay Museum


Related resources


Musée La Piscine
23 Rue de l'Espérance, 59100 Roubaix, France



Wednesday 29 October 2014

It would have been Niki de Saint Phalle’s 84th birthday


Today, Google Doodle celebrates the French Sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle.




The French sculptor was born on 29 October 1930 and died on 21 May 2002. She is better known for her curvaceous women figures (les “Nanas”).

Purely by coincidence, I saw yesterday a beautiful vase by Niki de Saint Phalle at the Musée la Piscine in Roubaix (France).


Poisson – Vase (Fish – Vase) by Niki de Saint-Phalle – Painted Polyester and metal


Related resources


Wednesday 1 October 2014

Eaton Footbridge - oil painting

Here is a painting of Eaton Footbridge along the River Thames.

Eaton Footbridge - Oil painting (14" x 18") by Benoit Philippe

You can see the reference photo I shot in August in my earlier post Painting spots along the Thames.