Sculpture by Claude Michel Clodion (France)

Claude Michel Clodion (1738 - 1814), known as Clodion, was a French sculptor in the Rococo style. He was born in Nancy, France, to a family of sculptors. His uncle, Lambert-Sigisbert Adam, was a well-known sculptor of the time, and Clodion trained in his workshop. In 1759, he won the Prix de Rome, which allowed him to study in Italy for four years.

While in Italy, Clodion was influenced by the art of ancient Greece and Rome. He also developed a keen interest in the work of Bernini, a leading Italian sculptor of the Baroque period.

After returning to France in 1763, Clodion quickly became one of the most popular sculptors in Paris. He was known for his graceful and sensual figures, which often depicted nymphs, bacchantes, and other mythological figures. He also produced a number of portrait busts, including one of Voltaire.

Clodion's work was highly more... sought-after by collectors, and he was commissioned to create sculptures for a number of important patrons, including the Prince de Conti and Catherine the Great of Russia. Some of his most famous works include Nymph with a Shell, Bacchante with a Goat, Faun and Nymph, Voltaire, Relief on the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel,

In the later years of his career, Clodion's style became more Neoclassical. He produced a number of large-scale public monuments, including a relief for the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Paris.

Clodion died in Paris in 1814. He is considered one of the most important sculptors of the Rococo period.

Clodion's work is characterized by its graceful curves, delicate details, and sensuality. He was a master of terracotta, and his sculptures in this medium are particularly prized. His work is still highly admired today, and it can be found in museums and private collections around the world. less...