French Bronze Bust by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Known as “Le Fumeur”, Dated 1869

Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux was born on 11 May, 1827 at Valenciennes, France the son of a mason. He initially studied at the Valenciennes art academy before the family moved to Paris. In 1844, Carpeaux entered the École des Beaux-Arts and also studied under François Rude and Francisque Duret. He started exhibiting at the Paris Salon in 1853 and won the Prix de Rome in 1854. Soon after, Carpeaux traveled to Italy, where he spent time in Rome studying at the French Academy. There, he produced several sculptures, which he exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1858. The critical acclaim Carpeaux received led to several important state and private commissions, helping him to achieve success and establishing his reputation. He returned to Paris in 1861 and went on to found his atelier in 1866, casting bronze editions of his sculptures. In the same year, Carpeaux received the chevalier of the Legion of Honour. He won first prize at the Exposition Universelle of 1867 in Paris. Carpeaux died on 12th October 1875, at George Barbu Știrbei's château in Bécon-les-Bruyères, outside Courbevoie near Paris. Examples of his work can be found at the National Museum, Warsaw, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and the Orsay Museum, Paris, France. Some of his public and architectural works can still be found at the Louvre Palace, Opera Garnier, Valenciennes and the Jardin du Luxemburg.