Rude, François

(1784-1855)

   sculptor

   Born in Dijon, François Rude studied in Paris with noted sculptors. Exiled to Brussels, in 1826 he carved a bust of L. David and, at the salon in Paris in 1827, exhibited his Mercure rattachant son talon-nière, done in classical style. in 1833, he produced a small Pecheur napolitain, known for its lively and intimate workmanship. Commissioned by adolphe Thiers to decorate one of the piers of the arc de triomphe, Rude produced in low relief Le Départ des volontaires, also known by the name La Marseillaise (1835-36). Although this work shows a proximity to the academic tradition, it was strongly criticized by many officials because of the violent expression of its central figure, the intense movement of the composition, and its realistic appearance. Rude shows his more romantic temperament in works such as Jeanne d'Arc écoutant ses voix (1845-52) or Napoléon s'éveillantà l'immortalité (1847). Rude had a great sense of expression and a feel for movement in both individual figures and in groupings, all without losing a sense of precision and restraint (GaspardMonge, 1848; Le Maréchal Ney, 1852-53).