born Sept. 24, 1796, Paris, Fr.
died June 29, 1875, Paris
French sculptor.
The son of a goldsmith, he was apprenticed at 13 to an engraver. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts (181823) and began to sculpt animal forms 0441; 1819. Influenced by Théodore Géricault , he had a unique talent for rendering dynamic tension and exact anatomical detail. His most famous works depict wild animals devouring their prey; he also rendered groups of domestic animals. His notable bronzes include Lion Devouring a Gavial Crocodile (1831) and an equestrian statue of Napoleon at Ajaccio, Corsica (186065).