The son of a farm worker, Alfred Boucher was born in 1850 in the French commune of Bouy-sur-Orvin and rose to prominence as a prolific, award-winning artist during the late 19th century, producing meticulously detailed sculptures for the likes of royalty and presidents.
When he was young, the Boucher family moved to Nogent-sur-Seine where his father secured gardening work for sculptor Joseph-Marius Ramus. Ramus, who worked in the neoclassical style, saw potential in Boucher. He invited him to work in his studio and helped him get a scholarship to Beaux-Arts de Paris when Boucher was 19 years old.
In Paris, Boucher studied under esteemed sculptors Augustin Dumont and Paul Dubois. He began to develop a unique style characterized by a sense of life, movement and symbolism. While Boucher is known as an academic sculptor, his work usually paid tribute to day laborers — an understandable endeavor given his father’s role as a farmhand.
As his profile grew, Boucher also secured commissions to create busts of prominent figures in the scientific community as well as politicians. The artist became friendly with Auguste Rodin — widely considered the father of modern sculpture — and mentored Laure Coutan and Camille Claudel. Later, in 1902, Boucher founded the low-cost studios La Ruche in Montparnasse to support young artists.
Boucher participated at his first salon in 1874, winning a bronze medal. He later lived in Italy and further honed his skills, and was awarded the Prix du Salon in 1881. He received the Grand Prix at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900.
Boucher was promoted to Grand Officer in the Légion d'Honneur in 1925 and passed away in 1934.
Find original Alfred Boucher sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.
“A la terre!” French Antique Bronze Sculpture by Alfred Boucher & Barbedienne
By Alfred Boucher, F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Shippensburg, PA
Bronze sculpture model of "A La Terre!" (1890) after Alfred Boucher Signed to naturalistic base "A. Boucher", inscribed "F. Barbedienne Fondeur" Item # 008AMH08W This powerful mode...
Bronze
‘Diana the Huntress’. A Near Lifesize Statuary Marble Group
By Alfred Boucher
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
Alfred Boucher (French, 1850-1934), ‘Diana the Huntress’, A Near Lifesize Statuary Marble Group. Modelled nude with head turned looking to her left, striding forward holding the greyhound by its collar with her right hand and a giltwood bow in her left hand. On an integral carved base with foliage support. Signed 'A. BOUCHER' Boucher’s choice of pose is deliberately indebted to the celebrated mid-16th century painting of Diana the Huntress by an anonymous artist of the School of Fontainebleau. The painting is a mythical representation of Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of King Henry II, in the guise of the goddess Diana, who is shown nude, walking forward beside a greyhound, looking over her left shoulder and holding a bow. Another clear antecedent for Boucher’s ‘Diane the Huntress...
Carrara Marble
Fine Pair of French White Marble and Gilt Bronze Figural Six-Light Candelabras
By Alfred Boucher
Located in New York, NY
A Fine Quality Pair of French White Marble with fine casting and Gilt Bronze Figural Six-Light Candelabras on Marble Bases signed 'A. BOUCHER'. Maker: Alfred Boucher (1850-1934) ...
Marble, Ormolu
"Nude and Horsedrawn Chariot, " Rare Bronze Plaque by Barbedienne
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautifully modeled, cast and finished, this high-relief plaque of a nude male figure followed by a four-horse chariot driven by a robed female figure was produced the famous Barbedi...
Bronze
F. Barbedienne Large Bronze Sculpture of Euterpe
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A bronze sculpture of Euterpe attributed to French metalworker Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892). Embellished to the reverse with the official stamp of the Collas et Barbedienne foun...
Bronze
Bust of Diana the Huntress
Located in Rome, IT
Sculpture, Bust of Diana the huntress - 82 cm - Marble ADDITIONAL PHOTOS, INFORMATION OF THE LOT AND QUOTE FOR SHIPPING COST CAN BE REQUEST ...
Marble
$59,500
H 15.36 in W 27.56 in D 12.6 in
"Galata Morente" Sculpture in Bronze, sign: F. Barbedienne Fonduer
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
F. Barbedienne fonduer Ferdinand Barbedienne (6 August 1810 – 21 March 1892) was a French metalworker and manufacturer, who was well known as a bronze founder. The son of a small farmer from Calvados, he started his career as a dealer in wallpaper in Paris. In 1838 he went into partnership with Achille Collas (1795-1859), who had just invented a machine to create miniature bronze replicas of statues. Together they started a business selling miniatures of antique statues from museums all over Europe, thus democratising art and making it more accessible to households.[2] From 1843 they extended their scope by reproducing the work of living artists and also diversified by making enamelled household objects. With the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war in 1870 the firm briefly had to switch to cannon founding owing to the shortage of metals but resumed business afterwards. Following Barbedienne's death in 1892, he was buried in the Père-Lachaise cemetery and the firm was carried on by his nephew Gustave Leblanc until 1952. Among the principal artists reproduced by the firm were Antoine Louis Barye and Auguste Rodin. The Dying Galata (Italian: Galata morente...
Bronze
$16,500 / set
H 27 in W 13 in D 12 in
Pair of Regency Gilt and Patinated Bronze Atlas Figural Candelabra
By Messenger & Phipson
Located in Essex, MA
Pair of Regency or William IV figural candelabra in form of Atlas and a globe. Six arms issuing from top. Patinated bronze, gilded bronze and bronze. A truly rare from. Attributed to...
Bronze
Bronze Diana the Huntress on Marble Base
Located in Annville, PA
Graceful even when standing still the Bronze Diana the Huntress on Marble Base is a striking addition to any setting. Using traditional lost ...
Bronze
Pair 18th Century French Gilt Bronze and Marble Figural Candelabra
Located in New York, US
Our monumental pair of 18th century candelabra of French origin depict Roman neoclassical male and female holding cornucopia, finely carved from white marble, with four light ormolu bronze candleholders of foliate design with fruits, nuts and grape bunches. Provenance: Arne Schlesch & José Juárez...
Marble, Bronze
$2,208Sale Price|20% Off
H 22.45 in W 8.47 in D 8.27 in
19th Century Bronze Figure of the Berlin Adorante by Barbedienne Foundry
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in 263-0031, JP
A 19th-century patinated bronze figure of the Berlin Adorante, or Praying Boy. The piece is a reduction of the Hellenistic-era original, currently in t...
Bronze
$4,741
H 16.93 in W 26.38 in D 6.7 in
Diana the Huntress – Art Deco Silver Leaf Sculpture by Salvatore Melani, 1930s
By Salvatore Melani
Located in Meda, MB
Elegant Art Deco sculpture depicting Diana the Huntress with a bow, created in the 1930s by Italian sculptor Salvatore Melani. The figure is crafted from plaster and finished with si...
Brass, Silver Leaf
$24,500 / set
H 28 in W 15 in D 10.5 in
Fine Pair of French 19th Century Gilt and Patinated Bronze Figural Candelabra
By Claude Michel Clodion
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine pair of French 19th century gilt bronze and patinated bronze figural four-light candelabra, each modeled as a baby Bacchus, in the form of a child faun, seated on tree trunk a...
Marble, Bronze
$7,200Sale Price|40% Off
H 15.5 in W 9 in D 7 in
Victorian Bronze Jester Sculpture by After Alfred Barye, France 1860
By Alfred Barye
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Alfred Barye was a French artist known for his meticulously detailed bronze sculptures of the Belle Époque featured in this listing. The standing figure with a dog and monkey at his ...
Bronze
$9,500
H 25 in W 15 in D 16 in
Crouching Venus Large Grand Tour Bronze Patinated Sculpture F. Barbedienne
By F. Barbedienne Foundry
Located in Rochester, NY
Grand tour bronze sculpture of the "Crouching Venus" after the antique. Fine patina. 19th century. Ferdinand Barbedienne (French, 1821-1902). # nude fe...
Bronze
Sold
H 12.6 in W 16.34 in D 8.47 in
A. Boucher : "Au But", Patinated bronze sculpture on Griotte marble C.1890
By Alfred Boucher
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Alfred BOUCHER (1850-1934, France) : "Au but" (The finishing line) Dark nuanced brown with deep dark green reflections patinated bronze sculpture standing on a shaped red "griotte" ...
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Alfred Boucher "Diana" Patinated Bronze
By Alfred Boucher
Located in Astoria, NY
Alfred Boucher (French, 1850-1934) "Diana", Patinated Bronze Sculpture, cast by F. Barbedienne Founder, late 19th century, the figure standing with her hound and holding her bow, wit...
Bronze
Sold
H 17.72 in W 27.17 in D 14.57 in
Au But bronze sculpture 3 nude runners by Alfred Boucher & Siot Foundry 1890.
By Alfred Boucher
Located in Antwerp, BE
Au But, Antique bronze sculpture of 3 nude runners by Alfred Boucher with the Siot founders' signature. Patinated bronze on red marble base. France ca. 18...
Bronze
Sold
H 17.72 in W 27.17 in D 14.57 in
Au But Antique Bronze Sculpture 3 Nude Runners by Alfred Boucher France 1890
By Alfred Boucher, Siot-Decauville
Located in Antwerp, BE
Au But, Antique bronze sculpture of 3 nude runners by Alfred Boucher with the Siot founders' signature. Patinated bronze on red marble base. France, circa...
Bronze
Sold
H 36 in W 16 in D 9.5 in
Alfred Boucher Bronze Sculpture Spanish Dancer With Castanet Danseuse Espagnole
By Alfred Boucher
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Alfred Boucher Bronze Sculpture Of A Spanish Dancer With Castanet Danseuse Espagnole Alfred Boucher was a French sculptor who was a ...
Bronze
Sold
H 13.39 in W 16.15 in D 8.27 in
Au But Antique Bronze Sculpture 3 Nude Runners by Alfred Boucher France 1890
By Alfred Boucher
Located in Antwerp, BE
Au But, Antique bronze sculpture of 3 nude runners by Alfred Boucher with the Siot founders' signature. Patinated bronze on red marble base. France, circa...
Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 12.6 in W 16.15 in D 0.4 in
Au But, Antique Bronze Sculpture 3 Nude Runners by Alfred Boucher, France, 1890
By Alfred Boucher
Located in Antwerp, BE
Au But, Antique bronze sculpture of 3 nude runners by Alfred Boucher with the Siot founders' signature. Patinated bronze on green marble base. France, ci...
Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 13 in W 16.25 in D 10 in
'Au But' French Art Nouveau Cast Bronze Sculpture by Alfred Boucher; circa 1890
By Alfred Boucher, Siot-Decauville
Located in Englewood, NJ
An early 20th Century French Art Nouveau cast bronze and marble sculpture "Au But" (To The Goal) by, Alfred Boucher - circa 1890. The cast patinated bronze sculpture of three male ma...
Marble, Bronze
Art Deco "Au But" Patinated Bronze Sculpture by Alfred Boucher
By Alfred Boucher
Located in Miami, FL
A fine patinated bronze figural group sculpture entitled "Au But" (The Finishing Line). Signed by A. Boucher, depicting three runners at the finish line. Made i...
Bronze
Sold
H 26.75 in W 41 in D 21 in
Patinated Bronze Figural Group Sculpture Entitled 'Au But' by Alfred Boucher
By Alfred Boucher
Located in New York, NY
A fine patinated bronze figural group sculpture entitled "Au But" (The Finishing Line). Recast, lacking the Siot-Decauville foundry stamp Stamped to base, "1612...
Bronze
Sold
H 26.38 in W 21 in D 13 in
“A la terre!” French Antique Bronze Sculpture by Alfred Boucher & Barbedienne
By F. Barbedienne Foundry, Alfred Boucher
Located in Shippensburg, PA
Bronze sculpture model of "A La Terre!" (1890) after Alfred Boucher Signed to naturalistic base "A. Boucher", inscribed "F. Barbedienne Fondeur" Item # 008AMH08W This powerful mode...
Bronze
Sold
H 29.14 in W 41.34 in D 19.69 in
'Au But' a Patinated Bronze Figural Group by Alfred Boucher. French, 1890
By Alfred Boucher
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
'Au But' (To the goal), a very fine patinated bronze figural group, by Alfred Boucher, raised on a rouge griotte marble base. Signed 'A. BOUCHER' and with title plaquette 'AU BUT ...
Marble, Bronze