Charles-Alphonse-Achille Guméry

Place: Vaugirard

Born: 1827

Death: 1871

Biography:

Charles-Alphonse-Achille Guméry was a French sculptor born in Paris on June 14, 1827. He came from a middle-class Savoyard family and was the son of Nicolas Guméry, a schoolteacher. Guméry's artistic talent led him to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris under Armand Toussaint.

Early Career and Prix de Rome

In 1850, Guméry received the Prix de Rome, a prestigious award that marked the beginning of his official career as a French sculptor. The Prix de Rome was a scholarship that allowed winners to study in Rome for three to five years at the expense of the state. This award was a significant milestone in Guméry's career, and it paved the way for his future success.

Notable Works and Contributions

Guméry's work can be found in various locations throughout Paris, including the Palais Garnier, where he created two gilded figural groups, L'Harmonie and La Poésie. He also sculpted Circe on the south façade of the Cour Carrée in the Louvre palace. Additionally, Guméry created a figure of Amsterdam at the Gare du Nord and a figure of Temperance in the Fontaine Saint-Michel. Some of his notable works include:

• La Danse, a group sculpture commissioned for the Opéra Garnier
• L'Harmonie and La Poésie, gilded figural groups at the Palais Garnier
• Circe, a sculpture on the south façade of the Cour Carrée in the Louvre palace

winners like Guméry were given the opportunity to study at the Villa Medici in Rome, which was established by Napoleon Bonaparte. This experience had a significant impact on their artistic development and future careers.

Legacy and Death

Guméry died on January 19, 1871, in Paris under obscure circumstances during the Siege of Paris. He is buried in the Cimetière de Montmartre, where his gravestone is surmounted by a bust sculpted by his pupil Jean Gautherin. Guméry's legacy as a French sculptor of academic realism continues to be celebrated, and his works can be found in various museums and locations throughout Paris, including the Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Angers and the Wikioo.org collection.