Charles Despiau

CHARLES DESPIAU (Mont-de-Marsan, 1874 - Paris, 1946)
"Apollo", 1937.
Bronze.
Signed.
With foundry stamp.
Exhibitions: "European sculpture of the 20th century", European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM), Barcelona, 2014.
Measurements: 120 x 40 x 24 cm.
Charles Despiau, who worked in Rodin's workshop, moved away from the expressionist dramatism of his master in search of a more serene, balanced and refined form. This "Apollo" from 1937 is a perfect example of his artistic maturity.
The figure represents the Greek god Apollo in a humanized and restrained manner. Unlike baroque or romantic representations, Despiau opts for a firm but soft anatomy, with a face that conveys an introspective calm.
Charles Despiau became one of the most prominent French personalities of the interwar period. He trained at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and in the studio of Louis-Ernest Barrias. Between 1907 and 1914 he also worked in Rodin's prestigious workshop, but the outbreak of World War I forced him to abandon the execution of a piece for a monument dedicated to the memory of Puvis de Chavannes, "The Genius of Eternal Rest", which he had commissioned from his master. During those years, he was associated with a group of sculptors gathered around Lucien Schnegg, such as An toine Bourdelle, Robert Wlérick, Léon-Ernest Drivier, François Pom pon, Louis Dejean or Alfred Jean Halou. However, it was not until 1927, when on the occasion of a major private exhibition at the Brummer Gallery in New York, that Despiau achieved definitive success and recognition. Despiau's works can be found in numerous private collections around the world. As for museums, works by him can be found, in particular in the National Museum of Modern Art in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art of the city of Paris, the Museum of Mont-de-Marsan, as well as numerous museums abroad, including the National Museum of Fine Arts in Algiers. Charles Despiau is today considered, along with Aristide Maillol, as one of the great renovators of the classical tradition in the 20th century, and pieces such as this "Apollo" are highly valued in public and private collections around the world.