George Grard
Encyclopedia
George Grard was a Belgian sculptor, known above all for his representations of the female, in the manner of Pierre Renoir
and Aristide Maillol
, modelled in clay or plaster, and cast in bronze.
Grard was born in Tournai
to a family of modest means and entered the Académie de Tournai in 1915, but his real calling as a sculptor became apparent when he followed a course in sculpture in 1922 with Maurice De Korte (1889–1971). In his native city he met Pierre Caille
, and later, in a Brussels
foundry, Charles Leplae. Having won the Prix Rubens (1930), he left for Paris, where he encountered the sculpture of Charles Despiau
, Aristide Maillol
and Pierre Renoir
, which influenced his mature style. In 1931, he set up his studio at Saint-Idesbald
on the coast, where his house became a rendez-vous of artists including Pierre Caille
, the Haesaerts brothers, Edgard Tytgat and Paul Delvaux
.
In 1935, he was commissioned to create a sculpture for the rose garden at the Exposition universelle et internationale. Two years later Henry Van de Velde
asked him for a work for the Belgian pavilion of the Exposition internationale, 1937
. In the nineteen-fifties Grard, still in full possession of his mature powers, received repeated public commissions: the Seated Figure at the Banque Nationale, Brussels (1950), La Mer, fronting the post office at Ostend
(1955, illustration), the Naïade at Tournai (1950), and Earth and Water, near the Albert Bridge at Liège (1964).
George Grard died at Saint-Idesbald in 1984.
Pierre Renoir
Pierre Renoir was a French stage and film actor and served briefly as the director of the Théâtre de l'Athénée in Paris, taking over after the death of Louis Jouvet in 1951....
and Aristide Maillol
Aristide Maillol
Aristide Maillol or Aristides Maillol was a French Catalan sculptor and painter.-Biography:...
, modelled in clay or plaster, and cast in bronze.
Grard was born in Tournai
Tournai
Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
to a family of modest means and entered the Académie de Tournai in 1915, but his real calling as a sculptor became apparent when he followed a course in sculpture in 1922 with Maurice De Korte (1889–1971). In his native city he met Pierre Caille
Pierre Caille (sculptor)
Pierre Caille, born 11 January 1911 in Tournai and died 24 October 1996 in Brussels, was a Belgian sculptor, painter, engraver, ceramicist and jeweller....
, and later, in a Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
foundry, Charles Leplae. Having won the Prix Rubens (1930), he left for Paris, where he encountered the sculpture of Charles Despiau
Charles Despiau
Charles Despiau was a French sculptor.Despiau was born at Mont-de-Marsan, Landes and attended first the Ecole des Arts Décoratifs and later the Ecole des Beaux Arts...
, Aristide Maillol
Aristide Maillol
Aristide Maillol or Aristides Maillol was a French Catalan sculptor and painter.-Biography:...
and Pierre Renoir
Pierre Renoir
Pierre Renoir was a French stage and film actor and served briefly as the director of the Théâtre de l'Athénée in Paris, taking over after the death of Louis Jouvet in 1951....
, which influenced his mature style. In 1931, he set up his studio at Saint-Idesbald
Saint-Idesbald
Saint-Idesbald is a hamlet, part of Koksijde, which also includes Oostduinkerke. Its name refers to Idesbald, a 12th century abbot of the Abbey of Ten Duinen....
on the coast, where his house became a rendez-vous of artists including Pierre Caille
Pierre Caille (sculptor)
Pierre Caille, born 11 January 1911 in Tournai and died 24 October 1996 in Brussels, was a Belgian sculptor, painter, engraver, ceramicist and jeweller....
, the Haesaerts brothers, Edgard Tytgat and Paul Delvaux
Paul Delvaux
Paul Delvaux was a Belgian painter, associated with Surrealism, famous for his paintings of female nudes.-Biography:...
.
In 1935, he was commissioned to create a sculpture for the rose garden at the Exposition universelle et internationale. Two years later Henry Van de Velde
Henry van de Velde
Henry Clemens Van de Velde was a Belgian Flemish painter, architect and interior designer. Together with Victor Horta and Paul Hankar he could be considered one of the main founders and representatives of Art Nouveau in Belgium...
asked him for a work for the Belgian pavilion of the Exposition internationale, 1937
Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne (1937)
The Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne was held from May 25 to November 25, 1937 in Paris, France...
. In the nineteen-fifties Grard, still in full possession of his mature powers, received repeated public commissions: the Seated Figure at the Banque Nationale, Brussels (1950), La Mer, fronting the post office at Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
(1955, illustration), the Naïade at Tournai (1950), and Earth and Water, near the Albert Bridge at Liège (1964).
George Grard died at Saint-Idesbald in 1984.
External links
- Yves Randaxhe, 'Le Musée en Plein Air du Sart-Tilman': George Grard
- Fondation George Grard
- De Muelenaere & Lefevere Art Gallery http://www.dmlgallery.be