Paul Dubois is a brilliant sculptor who, against his father’s wishes, chose a career as an artist, not a lawyer

Paul Dubois (July 18, 1829 May 23, 1905) is a famous French sculptor of the 19th century, an outstanding master of neoclassicism. He was also engaged in portrait painting, but in this field of activity he achieved much less success. The best masterpieces of the master’s work today are in museums in France, and also adorn the squares of Paris and Reims. There are many interesting facts in the artist’s biography, and his achievements in art have been repeatedly noted with prestigious awards.

Paul Dubois on the maternal side was the great-nephew of the famous French sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle. In recognition of the greatness of his ancestor, at an early stage of his work, he sometimes put the signature of Dubois-Pigalle on his works, but later abandoned this idea.

Paul Dubois biography

Paul Dubois was born on July 18, 1829 in the town of Nogent-sur-Seine in the north-east of France in the family of a notary. Since childhood, the boy was fond of drawing and modeling, but after graduating from school, he began to study law at the University of Paris, following his father’s will. After completing his studies and receiving a law degree, Paul nevertheless made a choice in favor of art and flatly abandoned the career of a notary. Instead, he entered the National School of Painting and Sculpture, where the experienced professor Armand Toussaint was the mentor of the young artist.

After completing his studies at the academy in 1859, Paul Dubois left for Rome to personally get acquainted with the work of the great sculptors and painters of past eras. He lived on the Apennine Peninsula for four years and it was here that he created his first independent works, and the masterpieces of Donatello and Michelangelo made the greatest influence on the formation of the style of the young sculptor.

While still in Italy, Paul began to take part in the prestigious Paris salons. Since 1860, he constantly sent his works to annual competitions and received awards for them on several occasions. Therefore, upon returning to his homeland in 1863, Dubois already had a reputation as one of the best French sculptors of his era, and without any problems got regular generous customers.

Thanks to his sociable character and cheerful disposition, Paul Dubois easily got along with people and found friends.

For many years he maintained warm friendships with many prominent figures of French art, including the composer Georges Bizet, as well as fellow sculptors Henri Chapu and Alexandre Falguière.

In 1873, Dubois was appointed to the prestigious position of curator of the Luxembourg Museum, and four years later he was offered to head the National School of Fine Arts in Paris. The authoritative sculptor willingly accepted the tempting offer and for 27 years served as the director of an ancient higher educational institution.

Over the years of his teaching career, Paul Dubois has trained many famous artists.

Among his many students, the names can be distinguished:

• Alfred Boucher;
• Camille Claudel;
• Helen Dohlmann;
• Jean Gautherin.

For services to France, the sculptor was repeatedly awarded the highest state awards. He became the owner of all five degrees of the Legion of Honor, was elected a member of the Academy of Arts, and also received an honorary personal award at the 1878 World Exhibition.

Until the last days of his life, the brilliant sculptor continued to create and lead the Academy of Arts, but on May 23, 1905, Paul Dubois died of pneumonia at the age of 75. He was buried in the family crypt at the famous Pere Lachaise cemetery, and the master’s burial place is still decorated with a majestic tombstone with a sculptural image of his mother, created by the artist himself.

The most famous works of Paul Dubois

The ingenious Frenchman presented to mankind many skillful sculptural masterpieces. And yet, the most famous works of Paul Dubois are:

1. “Narcissus Finished His Bathing” (1867) is one of the best works of the artist’s early period. Dubois made the first version of this masterpiece from plaster back in 1863 and received his first award at the Paris Salon for it, and four years later he created a marble copy, which still adorns one of the niches of the facade of the famous Louvre.
2. The cenotaph of General Christophe Louis Léon Juusho de Lamorisieres (1879) is a majestic monument installed in the homeland of an outstanding military and political figure. By order of the authorities of the city of Nantes, the sculptor made four allegorical statues, personifying mercy, military courage, faith and wisdom.
3. Monument to Marshal Anne de Montmorency (1886) a monument that adorns the square in front of the Chantilly Palace. The sculptor portrayed the noble marshal on horseback with a sword in his hands in the best traditions of the art of the Renaissance.
4. Equestrian statue of Jeanne d’Arc (1900) a monument to the national heroine of France, who made a huge contribution to the victory over the British in the Hundred Years War. The statue of the Maid of Orleans in knightly armor, riding a prancing horse, today adorns the Place Saint Augustine in Paris.