Félix Maurice CHARPENTIER (1858-1924), The shooting star

Bronze with brown patina, signed "F. Charpentier."
Sand cast during the artist's lifetime on a "Brèche de Saint-Maximin" marble base.
Circa 1897


Description
The shooting star is represented by a woman with closed eyes, wearing a golden star, perched on a cloud. The whole rests on a marble quadrangular pedestal with internal angles.

Our model was exhibited at the 1897 Salon des Artistes Français in Paris at the Palais de l'Industrie et des Beaux-Arts, where it was a great success.



Biography
Félix Maurice Charpentier, known as Félix Charpentier, was a French sculptor born in Bollène, in the Vaucluse department, on January 10, 1858.
He first studied at the École des Beaux-Arts d'Avignon, then in 1877 at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Paris, in the studio of Pierre-Jules Cavelier and Amédée Doublemard. He first presented his works at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1879, where he exhibited annually thereafter.

Beginning in 1882, he exhibited a number of plaster allegories, the most famous of which was "The Improviser," which was later produced in bronze.
Winning a silver medal at the 1889 Universal Exhibition, his reputation continued to grow.
Charpentier exhibited the plaster cast of "La Chanson" at the Salon that same year, and in 1890 received the first-class medal and the Salon Prize for his marble sculpture of this work.

In 1893, F. Charpentier was awarded the Medal of Honor for the marble sculpture "Lutteurs," acquired by the French State and now adorning the Town Hall Square in Bollène, his hometown. From this date on, the French government commissioned several public monuments from him, including the decoration of the Gare de Lyon in Paris and the bas-relief "Contemporary Art" for the façade of the Grand Palais in Paris.

Named a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1892, following the inauguration of the monument marking the centenary of the annexation of Avignon and the Comtat Venaissin to France, Charpentier was promoted to Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1901.
In 1899, Austria awarded Félix Charpentier the Grand Gold Medal at the Vienna International Triennial Exhibition for "Sleeping Globe."

He is responsible for numerous statues preserved in several National Museums, such as "The Shooting Star" (Museum of Fine Arts of Nîmes).

Charpentier's works also adorn numerous public gardens.

Awards and medals:
1880, 2nd medal for figure modeled after an antique at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
1882, 3rd medal for modeled after nature at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Salon des Artistes Français, honorable mention for The Harvester's Rest.
1883, honorable mention for The Patriotic Awakening.
1884, Salon des Artistes Français, 3rd class medal for the plaster cast of The Young Faun.
1885, 2nd medal for sketching in the round at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. 1886, following his admission to the box for the Prix de Rome, he was not a winner and ranked 3rd in the prize list.
1887, prize for head of expression at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Salon des Artistes Français, 2nd class medal for L’Improvisateur, which also awarded him a travel grant to travel to Italy and Spain the following year.
1889, silver medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris for L’Improvisateur. 1890, Salon des Artistes Français, 1st class medal and Salon prize for two works, La Chanson in marble and the plaster of the group Les Lutteurs.
1892, decorated with the title of Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur on the occasion of the inauguration of the monument La Réunion du Comtat Venaissin to France. 1893, Salon des Artistes Français, Medal of Honor for the marble work "Les Lutteurs." This is the highest distinction that can be awarded by the Jury.
1899, Grand Gold Medal of the Austrian State for "Le Globe endormi" presented at the International Triennial Exhibition in Vienna.
1900, Grand Prix de la Sculpture. The Gold Medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris is awarded to Félix Charpentier.
1902, promoted to the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor.
1908, he is appointed a member of the Higher Council of Fine Arts.
1909, Charpentier becomes a member of the purchasing committee for exhibitions organized by the Société des Artistes Français and the Société nationale des Beaux-arts.
1913, he is appointed a member of the Jury at the Salon des Artistes Français. He would do so again in 1920.
In 1920, his friends encouraged him to apply to the Institute.
In 1924, Charpentier was asked to paint a portrait of the newly elected President of the Republic, Gaston Doumergue.
He died in Paris on December 7.
He is buried in the Chassant Cemetery in Eure-et-Loir.