A few male sculptures from the Paris Opera Garnier (1) Gabriel Jules Thomas

The beautiful Opera Garnier in Paris gives us the opportunity to share a few sculptures from both the inside and outside of this outstanding building, among the hundreds available. You can visit this Opera House in detail, and in person, or even online ! Check this Opera Garnier website link.
Today, lets have a look at some outside sculptures from Gabriel Jules Thomas (1824-1905), who was a French sculptor, winner of the Prix de Rome.
A more detailed (French) biography by Nella Buscot can be seen here.

His 'La Renommée et l'Etude' bronze sculpture was made in 1903, to honor the architect Charles Garnier. Located on the West side, previously the entrance of the Chief of State, it is today the visitor's entrance.

'L'Etude et la Renommée' by GJ Thomas (detail - here 'L'Etude')

West side of Opera Garnier - 'L'Etude et la Renommée' sculpture - photo cergyrama

 (The bust of Charles Garnier above the two naked men was sculpted by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux).

'L'Etude'

La Renommée (detail)

Rising young man by Despiau

Thanks to a blog reader from Canada, I am sharing with you this French sculptor, Charles Despiau (November 4, 1874 – October 30, 1946).
Despiau worked for Rodin as an assistant in 1907, and did some personal sculptures also, taking his time for each of them, therefore not focussing at all on the quantity of sculptures he would do (150 known in total during 50 years of sculpting). 

Despiau did mostly portraits, and nude, as the one I choose to display here, the 'Rising Young Man'.

His one-man show of 1927 in New York, when he was 51, gave him a larger notoriety and success, resulting today in sculptures present among 30 museums in France, and 100 in the world. In New York, he has works in the MET and also the MOMA.

He died  in Paris.

Despiau - Rising young man -

See also this Charles Despiau video
You can visit the museum (Tour Lacataye) organized around his work in Mont de Marsan, France
 

And some statues are also displayed in Luxembourg, at the Chateau (and garden) of Colpach.

Sources :
Site Chateau de Colpac / Croix rouge

Charles Despiau website