You are here: Art > Biography > French

Life of JEAN GOUJON


 Advertisements

 
  French sculptor. He ranks second only to Germain Pilon as the greatest French sculptor of the 16th century and he created a distinctive Mannerist style as sophisticated as the finest works of painting and decoration of the contemporary School of Fontainebleau.
  Nothing is known of his early life and he is first recorded in 1540 as the carver of the fine columns supporting the organ loft in the church of S. Maclou at Rouen. The pure classicism of these columns has caused some critics to assume that he had first-hand knowledge of Italian art. He had moved to Paris by 1544, when he was working on the screen of St. Germain-l Auxerrois, in collaboration with the architect Pierre Lescot. Low-relief panels (now in the Louvre) from this screen show that Goujon had evolved a style of extreme grace and delicacy, owing something to the influence of Benvenuto Cellini. The style is seen at its most mature in his decorations (now in the Louvre) for the Fontaine des Innocents, Paris (1547-49). The six relief panels of nymphs from the fountain, with their exquisitely carved rippling draperies, are generally considered his masterpieces. Goujon s most extensive undertaking was on the sculptural decoration of the Louvre; he worked there from 1549 to 1562 in collaboration with Lescot, mainly on decorative panels forming part of the architectural scheme. Unfortunately all Goujon s work there has been heavily restored, including the famous caryatids (1550-51) in the Salle des Caryatides. Using caryatids on a monumental scale was a novelty, perhaps inspired by his reading of Vitruvius (he made illustrations for the first French edition of his treatise in 1547). There is no indication of any work executed after 1562 and it is possible that Goujon left France because of religious persecution and died in Bologna (the documentation is ambiguous).
  
 Advertisements
Nymphs
click to see full size image
See more details about "Nymphs "
Naiad
click to see full size image
See more details about "Naiad"
Piet�
click to see full size image
See more details about "Piet�"
Fa�ade of the Cour Carr�e (wing Lescot)
click to see full size image
See more details about "Fa�ade of the Cour Carr�e (wing Lescot)"
War and Peace
click to see full size image
See more details about "War and Peace"
Fa�ade of the Louvre
click to see full size image
See more details about "Fa�ade of the Louvre "
Monument to Louis de Br�z�
click to see full size image
See more details about "Monument to Louis de Br�z�"
Monument to Louis de Br�z�
click to see full size image
See more details about "Monument to Louis de Br�z�"
Salle des Cariatides
click to see full size image
See more details about "Salle des Cariatides"
Caryatides
click to see full size image
See more details about "Caryatides"

Pages :  1 2 

 


If you want write a review , you have to be registered. Login or Sign up / register
 Advertisements

Also see ...

GRAN, Daniel

GRAMATICA, Antiveduto

GRANACCI, Francesco

GRAAT, Barent

GOVAERTS, Abraham



        


 Translation  Spanish  German  French  Italian
 painter  pintor  maler  peintre  pittore
 painting  pintura  Anstrich  peinture  pittura
 paintings  pinturas  Anstriche  peintures  pitture
 biography  biograf�a  Biographie  biographie  biografia
 gallery  galer�a  Galerie  galerie  galleria