French Sculptor. He left school at the age of 13 to work as a wood carver in his father’s cabinet making shop. He learned drawing with the founder of the Ingres Museum in Montauban, then sculpture at the art school in Toulouse. At the age of 24 he won a scholarship to the Ecoles des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He did his first sculptures of Beethoven in 1888 and he became one of the pioneers of 20th century monumental sculpture. During his last years, Bourdelle received several commissions for monuments. He was a founder and vice-president of the Paris Salon des Tuileries, and in 1924 became a commander of the Legion of Honor. (bio by: MC)