![Victor Rousseau](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Victor_Rousseau.jpg)
Victor Rousseau (
Feluy, 16 December 1865 –
Forest
A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
, 17 March 1954) also known as M. Victor Rousseau, was a Belgian sculptor and medalist.
Biography
Rousseau was of
Walloon heritage and descended from a line of stonemasons. He began carving stone at age 11, working at the site of the
Law Courts of Brussels
The Palace of Justice of Brussels (french: Palais de Justice de Bruxelles, ; Dutch: ) or Law Courts of Brussels, nl, Rechtbank van Brussel is a courthouse in Brussels, Belgium. It is the country's most important court building, seat of the j ...
, designed by architect
Joseph Poelaert
Joseph Poelaert (21 March 1817 – 3 November 1879) was a Belgian architect. He was entrusted with important projects in Brussels, such as Saint Catherine's Church, the Church of Our Lady of Laeken, the Congress Column, the Royal Theatre of la ...
. He later apprenticed under sculptor Georges Houtstont, and took classes at the
Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts
The Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Brussels (french: Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts - École supérieure des Arts de la Ville de Bruxelles (ARBA-ESA), nl, Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten van Brussel), is an art school established in Br ...
in Brussels.
A winning competition entry for the
Prix Godecharle The Godecharle prize or the Godecharle contest is a contest for art students, the winners of which are granted a scholarship allocated by the Godecharle Foundation. The conditions for participation are that contestants are less than 35 years old, of ...
in 1890 gave Rousseau the chance to travel in England, Italy, and two full years in France, after which he returned to the atelier of Belgian sculptor and teacher
Charles van der Stappen
Charles van der Stappen (also Karl van der Stappen; 19 September 1843 – 21 October 1910), was a Belgian sculptor, born in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode.
Life
Educated at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels (1859–1868), van der Stappen' ...
for another two years, 1887 through 1889. Rousseau himself served as professor of sculpture at the
Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts
The Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Brussels (french: Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts - École supérieure des Arts de la Ville de Bruxelles (ARBA-ESA), nl, Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten van Brussel), is an art school established in Br ...
from 1901 through 1919, and as director from 1919 through 1922 (succeeding van der Stappen in that role) and then again from 1931 through 1935.
Honours
* 1919 : Commander of the
Order of the Crown.
[Royal Decree of H.M. King Albert I on 14 November 1919]
Work
* ''Le Hibou'' and ''Le Perroquet'' at the
Botanical Garden of Brussels
The Botanical Garden of Brussels (french: Jardin botanique de Bruxelles, nl, Kruidtuin van Brussel) is a former botanical garden in Brussels, Belgium. It was created in 1826 and stood on the Rue Royale/Koningsstraat in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, ...
, circa 1898
* monument panel to
Charles Buls
Charles Buls or Karel Buls (13 October 1837 – 13 July 1914) was a Belgian politician and mayor of the City of Brussels.
Early life
Charles François Gommaire Buls was born in Brussels as the son of a goldsmith from the region of Mechelen. B ...
and the builders of the
Grand-Place
The Grand-Place (French, ; "Grand Square"; also used in English) or Grote Markt (Dutch, ; "Big Market") is the central square of Brussels, Belgium. It is surrounded by opulent Baroque guildhalls of the former Guilds of Brussels and two larger ...
, with architect
Victor Horta
Victor Pierre Horta (; Victor, Baron Horta after 1932; 6 January 1861 – 8 September 1947) was a Belgian architect and designer, and one of the founders of the Art Nouveau movement. His Hôtel Tassel in Brussels, built in 1892–93, is often ...
, 1899
* corner relief panel at the
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau (; ) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. The style is known by different names in different languages: in German, in Italian, in Catalan, and also known as the Modern ...
Hôtel Hannon, for architect Jules Brunfaut,
Saint-Gilles, Belgium
( French, ) or (Dutch, ) is one of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. Located in the southern part of the region, it is bordered by the City of Brussels, Anderlecht, Forest and Ixelles. In common with all of Bruss ...
, 1903
* allegorical statues for the ''Pont de Fragnée'',
Liege, circa 1904
*
Anglo-Belgian Memorial,
Victoria Embankment
Victoria Embankment is part of the Thames Embankment, a road and river-walk along the north bank of the River Thames in London. It runs from the Palace of Westminster to Blackfriars Bridge in the City of London, and acts as a major thoroughfare ...
, London, 1920, with British architect Sir
Reginald Blomfield
Sir Reginald Theodore Blomfield (20 December 1856 – 27 December 1942) was a prolific British architect, garden designer and author of the Victorian and Edwardian period.
Early life and career
Blomfield was born at Bow rectory in Devon, w ...
* monumental figural group ''Maturity'', Montagne du Parc, Brussels, 1922
* bust of
Albert Giraud
Albert Giraud (; 23 June 1860 – 26 December 1929) was a Belgian poet who wrote in French.
Biography
Giraud was born Emile Albert Kayenbergh in Leuven, Belgium. He studied law at the University of Leuven. He left university without a degr ...
,
Josaphat Park
Josaphat Park (french: Parc Josaphat, nl, Josaphatpark) is a public park of located in the municipality of Schaerbeek in Brussels, Belgium. The football stadium that was formerly used by the K.V.V. Crossing Elewijt lies on the north-western ...
,
Schaerbeek
(French language, French and History of Dutch orthography, archaic Dutch, ) or (contemporary Dutch language, Dutch, ) is one of the List of municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, 19 municipalities of the Brussels, Brussels-Capital Re ...
References
External links
*
1865 births
1954 deaths
Walloon people
20th-century Belgian sculptors
19th-century Belgian sculptors
19th-century Belgian male artists
Commanders of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)
Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts alumni
Academic staff of the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts
20th-century Belgian male artists
{{Belgium-sculptor-stub