Émile-Louis Picault

Sculptor (1833–1915)

A pupil of the Flemish sculptor Louis Royer, Émile-Louis Picault exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français for nearly half a century, from 1863 to 1909. He presented allegories and subjects drawn from the Bible and mythology, such as his Persée délivrant Andromède, exhibited in 1880, rendered with a pronounced commitment to realism. Picault collaborated with several of the finest founders of his day, notably Colin, Houdebine, and Susse, renowned for the exceptional quality of their casts. His partnership with the bronze maker Servant brought him great acclaim for his Egyptian subjects, reflecting the Orientalist taste then very much in vogue. While his Japoniste subjects remain rare, his Greek-inspired compositions, characterized by great precision in the rendering of costumes and accessories, rank among the most celebrated of the second half of the 19th century. His works are preserved in several museum collections, notably the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Troyes, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Chambéry, the Musées de Maubeuge, and the Dahesh Museum of Art in New York.