Charles Desvergnes (1860–1928) was a French sculptor.
His life and achievements
Desvergnes was born in Bellegarde in Loiret, the son of a working-class family; his father was a baker. At his father's bakery, Desvergnes often used the dough to make models and his prowess came to the attention of the local Lord of the Manor, Charles Galopin, who introduced the young Desvergnes to the Paris sculptor Chapu.
By the age of 15, he had passed the entrance exams for the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. The Conseil Général du Loiret and his home town financed his years as a student and he was to win several prizes whilst at the school. He was runner up for the Rome prize in 1887 and received the prize itself in 1889 for his high relief "Le Retour de l'enfant prodigue". He was subsequently accepted at the "Villa Médicis" in Rome and studied sculpture there for 5 years.
On his return to France he received some prestigious commissions for public monuments including a monument to the neurologist Dr Duchenne and in 1899 his "monument commémoratif du combat des Aydes au faubourg Bannier" was inaugurated in Orléans. His major break through came with a commission to work on the monument at Melun, another Franco-Prussian war memorial. For this he was to receive the "Legion d'Honneur".
It was his long collaboration with Marcel Marron in Orleans that was to ensure that Desvergnes' work had the maximum exposure. Over the years 1902 to 1912, Desvergnes designed and made statues depicting Joan of Arc and Marron made copies of these works and marketed them to churches throughout France. The statues were life size. Desvergnes also sculpted some busts of Joan of Arc and these were again marketed by Marron.
In the years after the end of the Great War, there was a huge demand in France for war memorials. The loss of life had been enormous and every city, town and village in France felt the need to honour those who had lost their lives. There was a strict line drawn in France between public war memorials and those to be erected in parish churches and other religious buildings so in many cases communities sought to have a public and a religious memorial.
Again Desvergnes worked with Marron and designed and sculpted several memorials which Marron was to copy and market.
Thus Desvergnes' bas-relief of an angel drawing the attention of a dying soldier to Jesus on the cross, his composition showing an angel about to crown a soldier and his composition showing a soldier resting his foot on a German helmet can be seen throughout France.
Desvergnes' final work was at Beauvais Cathedral and was a study of the Bishop of Beauvais, Le Senne, seeking a pardon from Joan of Arc. Sadly Desvergnes died before this work was completed and it was finished off by others.
Towards the end of his life, Desvergnes left a collection of his work to his home town of Bellegarde, where it can be seen at the Pavillon d'Antin.
Desvergnes' work can be put into the following categories.
Early works including submissions for the Prix de Rome
WorkLocationSubject, notes and referencesBust of Thomy-ThiéryParisDesvergnes executed a bust of Thomy-Thiéry (1823–1902) an art collector and benefactor of the Louvre. This can be seen in the Musée d'Orsay.Bust of Thomy-Thiéry Musée d'Orsay. Retrieved 8 October 2012Copy of a work of antiquityParisDesvergnes' submission for the 1892 Prix de Rome was this copy of a work of antiquity. This is held in the archives of the Beaux-arts de Paris, l'école nationale supérieure. Beaux-arts de Paris, l'école nationale supérieure. Retrieved 8 October 2012Gaston ThysAngersThis bronze bas-relief is held in the Musée des Beaux-arts in Angers. The work is dated 1892 and was executed in Rome."Tête de Christ ou la Résignation"ParisThis was a work which Desvergnes submitted as part of his diploma course in 1888. This is held in the archives of the Beaux-arts de Paris, l'école nationale supérieure. Beaux-arts de Paris, l'école nationale supérieure. Retrieved 8 October 2012"Le retour de l'enfant prodigue"ParisThis was Desvergnes' winning submission for the 1889 Prix de Rome. This is held in the archives of the Beaux-arts de Paris, l'école nationale supérieure. Beaux-arts de Paris, l'école nationale supérieure. Retrieved 8 October 2012"L'Egypte et l'Assyrie initiant la Grèce à la pratique des Arts"ParisPart of Desvergnes' diploma work and dating to 1884. Beaux-arts de Paris, l'école nationale supérieure. Retrieved 8 October 2012
Early works. Public statues and monuments
WorkLocationSubject, notes and referencesMonument to Dr. DuchenneBoulogne-sur-Mer, Pas-de-CalaisThis work is dated 1899 and comprises a bronze bust of Dr Duchenne. The bust is positioned on a pedestal and below this bust a female figure is depicted writing an inscription on the pedestal. This female figure was meant to represent the rebirth of Boulogne. The monument is located in the boulevard Albert Ier. It is recorded that Desvergnes sculpted the bust free of charge. The bronze casting work was carried out by "les Forges de Bussy". Dr Duchenne was a native of Boulogne (1806–1875) and a pioneer in neurology. He described progressive muscular dystrophy which is called "Duchenne's myopathy" as a tribute to his work.Dr Duchenne. www.mincoin.com. Retrieved 11 October 2012Tomb of J. M. ValletParisDesvergnes added this magnificent sculpture to the grave of J. M. Vallet in the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris.Monument aux morts de la guerre de 1870–1871 et des coloniesMelunThere are few monuments in France linked to the 1870–1871 war and it has been remarked that this may have been because they were defeated; there was little to celebrate! The pressure to build this monument came from Buval's "Union des Défenseurs de la Patrie en Seine-et-Marne." and the public support he received raised sufficient funds to cover the commissioning. Desvergnes was chosen to do the sculptural work and this for him would have been his first prestigious commission. The monument was inaugurated on 2 June 1901. At the top of the monument and on a pedestal is a bronze allegory of France. She holds the National flag and has three soldiers around her. At one side of this and on a smaller pedestal, Desvergnes' composition depicts another allegorical depiction of France, again in bronze and this time dressed in peasant dress and holding a sheaf of wheat. She is shown handing a rifle to a youngster. Looking at the monument from the rear we see that the third soldier on the top of the pedestal has been wounded and possibly mortally so. The monument is located in the boulevard Chamblain, and on the sides of the pedestal are bronze emblems. For the Navy we have an anchor, a beret, a rifle and some laurel, for the infantry, a helmet, rifle and lance and for the cavalry, a cuirasse, helmet, sabre and lance.Statue of Jean de MeungMeung-sur-LoireThis statue honours the writer Jean de Meung, author of "Roman de la Rose".Statue of Jean de Meung Larep.Fr. Retrieved 13 October 2012The bust of Dr.DenanceVarennes-Changy, LoiretThe bust of Dr.Denance is on a pedestal near the parish church. The original bust was in bronze and dedicated to Dr.Denance who had done much work to combat tuberculosis in the Loiret region. The present bust is of plaster as the Germans melted down the bronze bust to be used to make armaments during their occupation of the Second World War.Dr.Denance. Retrieved 13 October 2012Monument to GaillardinMontargisIn 1920 Desvergnes was commissioned to executed the bronze monument which celebrated the victory of Gaillardin over the English in 1427. The episode is summarised on the inscription ": LE 3 SEPTEMBRE 1427 / APRES TROIS MOIS D'HEROIQUES EFFORTS / LES MILICES MONTARGOISES SECOURUES PAR DUBOIS / POTHON [?] XAINTRAILLES [?] LAMIRE / FORCERENT LES ANGLAIS COMMANDES / PAR WARWICK SUFFOLK ET LA POOL / A LEVER LE SIEGE DE LA VILLE / GAILLARDIN / CITOYEN DE MONTARGIS / S'EMPARA DE L'ETENDARD DE WARWICK / CET ETENDARD FUT BRULE EN In1789 / EN SIGNE DE FRATERNITE / DES NATIONS"In Desvergnes' composition Gaillardin stands with his foot on the chest of Warwick brandishing Warwick's flag in triumph.Monument to Gaillardin Base de données Géolocalisée du patrimoine monumental Français et Etranger. Retrieved 13 October 2012Monument des AydesOrléansMonument dedicated to an episode of the 1870-1871 war when Orléans was defended against the German invaders. The inscription reads "V. ARAGO 1833-1870; AUX DEFENSEURS / D'ORLEANS / 11 OCTOBRE 1870"Commemorates an action in which 5000 French soldiers faced 40,000 German soldiers and the commandant Arago was killed and is held as a national hero.Monument des Aydes Base de données Géolocalisée du patrimoine monumental Français et Etranger. Retrieved 13 October 2012Monument aux morts- War of 1870–71Thouars, Deux-SèvresThis monument remembering the Franco-Prussian War was inaugurated on 16 November 1902.Thouars crrl.fr/archives. Retrieved 13 October 2012Bust of Doctor Henri Poirot-DelpechSèvresDesvergnes executed this bust in 1908. Poirot-Delpech had been the local mayor.Doctor Henri Poirot-Delpech Cimetières de France et d'ailleurs. Retrieved 13 October 2012
Early works. Medallions, bas-relief portraits
WorkLocationSubject, notes and referencesMme Desvergnes MèreNemoursDesvergnes executed a medallion depicting his mother in 1890. This is now held in the collections of the Château-Musée in Nemours.Mme Desvergnes Mère la Réunion des musées nationaux et du Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées.Retrieved 10 October 2012C. ErlangerNemoursDesvergnes executed a bas-relief depicting C. Erlanger in 1891. The work indicates that it was executed in Rome. Erlanger was a good friend of Desvergnes. This is now held in the collections of the Château-Musée in Nemours.C.Erlanger la Réunion des musées nationaux et du Grand Palais des Champs-10 October 2012Le prince Jérôme NapoléonNemoursDesvergnes executed a medallion depicting Prince Jérôme Napoléon. This work is also dated 1891 and inscribed "Roma". This is now held in the collections of the Château-Musée in Nemours.Prince Jérôme Napoléon la Réunion des musées nationaux et du Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées. Retrieved 10 October 2012Lily de TrützschlerNemoursDesvergnes executed a bas-relief in 1890 depicting Lily de Trützschler. The inscription indicates work executed in Rome. This is now held in the collections of the Château-Musée in Nemours.Lily de Trützschler la Réunion des musées nationaux et du Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées. Retrieved 10 October 2012A. de RidderNemoursDesvergnes executed a bas-relief depicting A.de Ridder. Work dated 1890. This is now held in the collections of the Château-Musée in Nemours.de Ridder la Réunion des musées nationaux et du Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées. Retrieved 10 October 2012
There are several other Desvergnes medallions and bas-relief portraits held in the Nemours museum. These include studies of Leopoldo Taussig and U. Moreau, as well as a study entitled "Portrait d'homme" and another titled "Portrait de jeune femme". Leopoldo Taussig la Réunion des musées nationaux et du Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées. Retrieved 10 October 2012U.Moreau la Réunion des musées nationaux et du Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées.Retrieved 10 October 2012"Portrait d'homme""Portrait de jeune femme" la Réunion des musées nationaux et du Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées.Retrieved 10 October 2012
Depictions of Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc) and St Michael marketed by Marcel Marron