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JOSUË DUPON (Belgium, Ichtegem 1864-1935 / act: Antwerp) |
Josuë Dupon was a Belgian animalier sculptor and medalist but was also a painter and engraver. He was born in Ichtegem on 22 May 1864 and died in Antwerp on 13 October 1935. Dupon initially received his education through evening classes at the Academies of Antwerp in Roeselare and Jacques De Braekeleer and later the tutorship of Thomas Vinçotte. He became a gifted, versatile and prolific artist.Dupon was initially employed in the workshop of Clement Carbon Roeselare. In 1891 he was second in the Prix de Rome for sculpture. He was a close friend of Jules Lagae (1862-1931), and, as an animalier sculptor, of Rembrandt Bugatti (1884-1916). In the period 1930-1935 he was a teacher at the Academy of Antwerp along with Alberic Collin, Willy Kreitz and Albert Poels. Dupont had a technical mastery and sense of drama. His tended to idealise his subjects.
From 1890 Dupon exhibited regularly at the Dupont Triennial Salons. He is best known as a sculptor of exotic animals but also executed numerous busts and public monuments, including the remarkable statue of Father Lawrence (1930) in Moorslede. In 1893 Dupon was one of the first artists to focus on the chryselephantine sculpture, figurines of ivory, with gold or other metals. His studio remained until the death of his daughter in 1986 untouched. He designed about 60 very fine medals. His work can be found in the Antwerp Zoo, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and the Middelheim in Antwerp, Brussels and Bucharest. In 1936 he was posthumously awarded with a bronze medal in the art competitions of the Olympic Games for his "Equestrian Medals".
[Megakles Rogakos 12/2008]
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