François Pompon was born in 1855 in Saulieu and soon became an apprentice in his father’s workshop, who was a cabinetmaker. In 1870, thanks to a scholarship, he moved to Dijon to train as a stone carver with a marble worker and took evening classes at the School of Fine Arts in Dijon.

He later moved to Paris, working as a marble worker in a funeral company near Montparnasse Cemetery, allowing him to visit the menagerie at the Jardin des Plantes, where he spent long hours observing exotic animals. In 1890, he joined Rodin’s studio, where he worked alongside other sculptors such as Camille Claudel and René de Saint-Marceau. Pompon developed a strong passion for ancient Middle Eastern arts, particularly Egyptian statuary, and also for Japonism, which was highly influential at the time.

By 1905, he began incorporating animals into his work. He gained recognition from his peers and the public only in 1922, thanks to his sculpture Ours Blanc (The Polar Bear), which he exhibited at the Salon d’Automne. His distinctly modern style stood in stark contrast to the 19th-century animal bronzes. His lines were simplified, the animal stylized to capture only its essence. The perfect balance of forms gave life and movement to his bestiary inspired by reality.

Pompon’s works remain sought after by collectors today and achieve impressive prices at auction.

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