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, designed by architect Joseph Poelaert. 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 B ...

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 for another two years, 1887 through 1889. Rousseau himself served as professor of sculpture at the

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. ...

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, 1899 * corner relief panel at the Art Nouveau 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 Bru ...

, 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 deg ...

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 c ...

Schaerbeek (French and archaic Dutch, ) or (contemporary Dutch, ) is one of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. Located in the north-eastern part of the region, it is bordered by the City of Brussels, Etterbeek, Evere and S ...

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