Victor Sappey Explained
Victor Sappey (11 February 1801, Grenoble - 23 March 1856), also known as Pierre-Victor Sappey, was a French sculptor.
Career
In 1824, Sappey worked in Rogge's workshop in Paris before living in Egypt for two years with his friend Jean Achard and a group of St. Simonians. He was among the first sculptors to use cement as a sculptural material. This can be seen in the statue "Génie des Alpes" in Uriage-les-Bains; though the original was destroyed, a model is kept at Musée dauphinois. Sappey was professor and later director at the École des Beaux-Arts de Grenoble. In addition to his sculptures, Sappey was also known for his caricatures.[1]
Personal life
Sappey was a friend of Théodore Ravanat and Henri Fantin-Latour, and was close to all members of the École dauphinoise that he attended in Proveysieux. He was also the father-in-law of the Grenoble sculptor Aimé Charles Irvoy (1824–1898), who had once been his student. His father was a stonemason.
Selected works
In Grenoble, France
- "Le Drac" - terra cotta, 1833. It was named after the Drac. The Museum of Grenoble purchased it in 1856.
- "Fontaine des dauphins" - stone. Also known as "Château d'eau de la Valette," this was erected as a tribute to former Grenoble mayor Marquis de Lavalette. Nadon created the fountain while Sappey created the cherubs and dolphins.[2]
- "Le serpent et le dragon" - stone and bronze, 1843. This fountain, located near the Saint-Laurent Bridge, was created following severe flooding. The lion symbolizes the city defeating the snake, or the Isère River.
- Alexandre Michal-Ladichèr - plaster, 1836. Acquired by the Museum of Grenoble in 1885.[3]
- Self-portrait - terra cotta. At the Museum of Grenoble.
- Jacques de Vaucanson - plaster. Bust. At the Museum of Grenoble.
- "L'Enfant au poisson; La Pêche" - marble, 1849. At the Museum of Grenoble.
- "L'Isère" - terra cotta, 1835. Statuette. At the Museum of Grenoble.
- "La Mort de Lucrèce" - plaster, 1828. High-relief. At the Museum of Grenoble.
- "Le Géant des Alpes" - cement. 5m (16feet) statue. This was destroyed but the Musée dauphinois has a model.
- Louis-Joseph Vicat - 1855. Bust. At the Museum of Grenoble.
- Monument to General Marchand - 1851. Tombstone. At Saint Roch Cemetery.[4]
- Monument to Mrs Recoura - marble, 1855. Tombstone. At Saint Roch Cemetery.[5]
Elsewhere
- Chambéry: "Fontaine des éléphants" - bronze and cast iron, 1838. This was erected in honour of General Benoît de Boigne, a generous donor to the town, and specifically references his achievements in India.[6]
- Uriage-les-Bains: "Fontaine de la nymphe" - stone, 1847. Also known as "Fontaine de la déesse Hygie." Depicts the goddess Hygieia.[7]
- Valence, Drôme: Statue Jean-Étienne Championnet - bronze, 1848. The monument was restored in 2002.[8]
- Voreppe: Amable Rome tombstones - stone. Tombstones created for Dr. Amable Rome and his son.[9]
References
- Maurice Wantellet, Deux siècles et plus de peinture dauphinoise, edited by the author
Notes and References
- Web site: Le "cahier des charges" de Victor Sappey. 2008-05-02. Caricatures et caricature. 2023-02-25. fr.
- Web site: OU TROUVER UNE FONTAINE, BASSIN ET LAVOIR ANCIEN !! EN ISERE. Isere Annuaire. 2023-02-25. live. 2006-09-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20060903151741/http://www.isere-annuaire.com/monument/fontaine_lavalette.htm. fr.
- Web site: Alexandre Michal-Ladichèr. Musée de Grenoble. 2023-02-25.
- Web site: Monument to General Marchand. Art & Architecture. 2023-02-25.
- Web site: Monument to Mrs Recoura. Art & Architecture. 2023-02-25.
- Web site: Fontaine de Boigne, ou Fontaine des éléphants – Chambéry. Perchet. Dominique. 2015-10-20. E-monumen. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200925224033/https://e-monumen.net/patrimoine-monumental/fontaine-de-boigne-ou-fontaine-des-elephants-chambery/. 2020-09-25. fr.
- Web site: Fontaine de la déesse Hygie à Saint-Martin-d'Uriage. Fiche détaillée petit patrimoine. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20111230201423/http://www.petit-patrimoine.com/fiche-petit-patrimoine.php?id_pp=38422_1. 2011-12-30.
- Web site: Monument au général Championnet – Valence (sauvé). Perchet. Dominique. 2017-04-21. E-monumen. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140322001026/http://www.e-monumen.net/index.php?option=com_monumen&monumenTask=monumenDetails&catid=2&monumenId=8703&Itemid=19. 2014-03-22. fr.
- Web site: VOREPPE (38) : cimetière. Landru. Philippe. 2009-08-26. Cimetières de France et d’ailleurs. 2023-02-25. fr.