A French sculptor, Alfred Boucher (September 23, 1850 – 1934), mentor to Camille Claudel and friend of Auguste Rodin. Born in Bouy-sur-Ovin (Nogent-sur-Seine), he was the son of a farmhand who became the gardener of the sculptor Marius Ramus, who, after recognizing Boucher's talent, opened his studio to him. He won the Grand Prix du Salon in 1881 with "La Piété Filiale." He then moved to Florence for a long period and was a favourite sculptor of presidents and royals such as George I of Greece and Maria-Pia of Romania. He provided inspiration and encouragement to the next generation of sculptors such as Laure Coutan and Camille Claudel. The latter was depicted in "Camille Claudel lisant" by Boucher [1] and later she herself sculpted a bust of her mentor. Before moving to Florence and after having taught Claudel and others for over three years, Boucher asked Rodin to take over the instruction of his pupils. This is how Rodin and Claudel met and their tumultuous and passionate relationship started. Ever generous and philanthropic, he founded the studio La Ruche in Montparnasse in 1902 to help young artists. He received the Grand Prix de sculpture de l'Exposition Universelle in 1900. He died in Aix-les-Bains at the age of 84.
Links
- Alfred Boucher - French Wikipedia
- Official site of Musée Paul Dubois-Alfred Boucher, Nogent-sur-Seine
- Biography of Alfred Boucher
- National Art Museum of Sport
- "Volubilis" by Alfred Boucher
Recent Exhibitions
"Camille Claudel révélée…", sculpture by Alfred Boucher and Auguste Rodin, Nogent-sur-Seine, Agora Michel Baroin, May 2003. [2] "Alfred Boucher, 1850-1934, sculpteur humaniste", Musée Paul Dubois-Alfred Boucher, Nogent-sur-Seine, 27 May to 29 October 2000, (catalogue available with text by Jacques Piette, conservateur du musée municipal Paul Dubois - Alfred Boucher)
