A few male sculptures from the Paris Opera Garnier (3) Louis Felix Chabaud

The largest serie of sculptures from the Opera House is from the French sculptor Louis Felix Chabaud (1824-1902). It is an impressive collection of more than 400 art pieces that have been recorded so far, from busts, masks, statues, both inside and outside.

The recent book of Jean-Marc Hery 'Louis Felix Chabaud, un sculpteur oublié'  (A forgotten sculptor) allows us to re-discover this.

From modest farmer origins, he started to work on stones aged 15, in Aix en Provence, then studied sculpture in the same town, before moving to Paris. At 24, he won the Prix de Rome for the engraved medals category, so he can go to the famous Villa Medicis, where he will meet Charles Garnier, another winner. Chabaud had a strong relationship with the architect Garnier, and started to receive commissions for the Opera House. It is the beginning of some impressive work.

For example the carved Opera zodiac vault (with 16 heads : 12 zodiac signs and the 4 cardinal points), the golden busts representing famous composers, some lighting busts, and of course the numerous (275) masks, and the giant marble head of Minerve (5 meters high).

'Poissons' zodiac sign - Chabaud

'Comédie' by Chabaud

'Tragédie' by Chabaud

A selection of videos to visit the Opera House:
Official website
Inside visit of the opera 
About the architecture


 
Other sources about the sculptor Louis Felix Chabaud:
Comprehensive general website about him, in French
Book about him by Jean-Marc Hery

A few male sculptures from the Paris Opera Garnier (2) Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux

This 'Spirit of Dance', a smiling young man playing music is part of the large sculpture from the main side of Opera Garnier in Paris, called 'La Danse' (The Dance), executed by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (1827-1875).

It took a few years to agree on the final sculpture between the architect (Charles Garnier) and the sculptor, and to achieve it. The final result still caused much controversy due to the females nudity involved. A bottle of ink was even thrown on it one day. Some wanted the sculpture to be removed. But the war of 1870 started, and the sculptor died as well, so this put an end to the controversy.

La Danse, 1866, by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (Opera Garnier) - photo Verchere

Nowadays, the original piece is located at the Musée d'Orsay to ensure its protection from the weather, and a copy is in front of the Opera House, copy made by the French sculptor Jean Juge, and supervised by Paul Belmondo, other French sculptor.
 
Have a look at this interesting video about 'La Danse'

We may come back to some other Carpeaux sculptures. The Musée d'Orsay organized a major exhibition last year about his work.

Sources:
Musée d'Orsay
Video
Wikiphydias

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)