Two men in a Paris cemetery - Auguste Maillard

These two naked men, located in a prominent cemetery in Paris, and sculpted in stone, are a mystery. They were created by Auguste Maillard, famous French sculptor who died in 1944, but we could not find any information about it (except that it was given after his death), unlike others sculptures from him, well documented.

We initially discovered the existence of this sculpture, years ago and not knowing where it was, through the French photographer Paul Marguerite. Then, only knowing the town (which has two cemeteries), looking at the other pictures we determined which of the two it was, and went a few days ago, where we could take the pictures of this post. So it is located in the 'New' cemetery of Neuilly, actually on the areas of Puteaux/Nanterre, built around 1884.

Auguste Maillard was born in 1864, he studied sculpture with Alexandre Falguière, at the Paris Fine Arts school. Numerous busts and monuments from him are disseminated in France. In public places, cemeteries. He died accidentally during the 'Libération' or end of the last war, in August 1944, having received a lost bullet in front of his house, in Neuilly.

During the World Exhibition held in Paris in 1900, he received an award for his 'Icarus fall'
marble sculpture, which unfortunately disappeared mysteriously during a transfer for being 'renovated', in 2005.

Auguste Maillard 'Icarus Fall' postcard - Collection Delcampe

Sources
Paul Marguerite
Wikipedia
Article sur La Chute d'Icare
Delcampe

Paris January 2015 - Stone sculpture looking for Liberté Egalité Fraternité...

Immortality of this stone male sculpture...

Eiffel tower symbolizing Paris...

Paris symbolizing France,

France symbolizing Freedom, 

Freedom of Expression, Democracy, 

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, ...

Photo Julien Fourniol - 2010

The sculpture is looking towards the Tour Eiffel from the 'Esplanade des Droits de l'Homme' (Human Rights place) and Palais de Chaillot.

 

After the recent events of Paris, I want to interpret this statue as looking at this dream of people living peacefully together, and working together to elevate the human spirit.

The dying slave of Michel Angelo

Michel Ange (1465-1564) who had a passion for the male body, and numerous lovers, was commissionned by Pope Julius II to create his tomb. Part of that project, who took in total close to 40 years, are two slave sculptures : the dying slave, and the rebellious slave.
Eventually they were not included in the overall project, and offered by Michel Angelo in 1542 to his friend Roberto Strozzi, who himself, gave them later on to the French King François 1st.


The dying slave is a larger-than-life-size marble sculpture, displayed in Paris in the Louvre Museum, full of sensuality.

 

And in Paris, even larger sculptures of the Dying slave can be seen! Indeed, at the 80 avenue Daumesnil, which cross the Rambouillet street, 12 copies have been made below the roof, each close to 5 meters high. There is a large triangle cut in the back/chest. The building was designed by the Spanish architect Manuel Nuñez-Yanowski who started working for Ricardo Bofill.

 

  

A contemporary version was made by the French artist Yves Klein (1928-1962).

               And a French stamp engraved in 2003 showing both the rebellious slave and the dying slave.