Francisque Joseph Duret

Francisque Joseph Duret (1804-1865) was a French sculptor, son and pupil of François-Joseph Duret (1732-1816). He also studied under Bosio, and won the Prix de Rome in 1823. In 1833 he exhibited his "Neapolitan Fisher Dancing the Tarantella", now in the Louvre, a spirited statue in bronze, which established his reputation. In the same class is his "Neapolitan Improvisatore" (1839, Leipzig Museum). His works executed for public buildings include: "France Protecting her Children" (1855), a group in the grand style for the Louvre; two bronze caryatids for the tomb of Napoleon in the Invalides; a colossal Christ in the church of the Madeleine; the statues of "Comedy" and "Tragedy" for the Théâtre Français; marble statues of Dunois, Philippe of France, Chateaubriand, and Richelieu at Versailles; and the group for the fountain of St. Michel, representing that saint wrestling with Satan. He received the medal of honor in 1855 and was made a member of the Institute in 1845. As professor in the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, he was more influential through his teaching than through his works.

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