Jean-François Legendre-Héral

Place: Montpellier

Born: 1796

Death: 1851

Biography:

Jean-François Legendre-Héral was a French classical sculptor born on January 21, 1796, in Montpellier, France. His father was a postal worker, and after his death, his mother married a musician who introduced him to the arts. Jean-François Legendre-Héral was soon allowed to enroll in the École nationale des beaux-arts de Lyon, where he studied with Joseph Chinard and Joseph Charles Marin. In 1817, he obtained a grant from the city for a study trip to Rome. It was at this time that he added his step-father's name to his own to become Legendre-Héral.

Early Career

During his stay in Rome, Jean-François Legendre-Héral was accused by his fellow sculptor James Pradier of casting his sculptures from life. This accusation would later become the source of rumors in Lyon and Paris, apparently spread by François Joseph Bosio. In 1819, he was named to a professorship at the École, where Jean-Marie Bonnassieux and Hippolyte Flandrin were among his first students.

Notable Works

Some of Jean-François Legendre-Héral's notable works include:

• Christ and the Twelve Apostles, a statuary ensemble originally part of the altar at the Royal Monastery of Brou.
• Henry IV, for the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) of Lyon.
• The Four Evangelists, lost during the restoration of the Église Saint-Paul in 1901.
• Giotto enfant dessinant sur le sable (Giotto as a Child, Drawing in the Sand), marble, which can be found at the Musée de Montpellier.
• Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot, marble, which is now at the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon.

In 1825, Jean-François Legendre-Héral went to Paris with a deputation from Hérault to work on implementing an equestrian statue of Louis XIV for his hometown of Montpellier. He took this opportunity to request an extended leave from the École. Later Life and Legacy In 1837, Jean-François Legendre-Héral was named a Chevalier in the Legion d'Honneur. The following year, he resigned from his teaching position and moved to Paris, where he was awarded major government contracts for the Jardin des Plantes, Versailles, and several churches. Jean-François Legendre-Héral suffered from a disease of the spinal cord and ceased working, retiring to Marcilly, where he died on September 13, 1851. To learn more about Jean-François Legendre-Héral and his works, visit https://Wikioo.org/@/Jean-François%20Legendre-Héral. You can also explore the Musée Fabre at https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/O/A@D3APL9, which features an impressive collection of artworks from the 15th to the 21st century. For more information on Jean-François Legendre-Héral's life and career, check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois_Legendre-H%C3%A9ral.