The Carpenter

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This sculpture is called "Le Charpentier" by André Duparcq. Born in Marly-lez-Valenciennes in 1897 into a family of modest means where art was deeply valued, this artist's passion for art shone brightly from an early age. Wasn't his brother Abel the president of the Valenciennes Society of Cent Protecteurs des Arts? A pupil of Raset at Valenciennes, André Duparcq went on to study under Jean Boucher in Paris, where he worked closely with his mentor. He earned a silver medal at the Salon des Artistes françaises in 1932 for a "Water carrier." His "Charpentier" secured him the gold medal in 1935. As a professor of sculpture at the School of Fine Arts of Rouen from 1935 to 1959, Duparcq was able to create several monumental works throughout the region, including the statues of "François 1er" in Le Havre and that of "Pierre Corneille" in Rouen. "Le Charpentier", crafted from stone from Euville, stands out for its colossal size and clarity against a backdrop of greenery or against the facade of the Pavillon Fournier during winter. He proudly towers over the garden, firmly planted on his piece of wood. Open shirt, sleeves rolled up, dressed in large canvas trousers, the "Charpentier" appears to defy eternity with the audacity of youthful vigor. This worker figure embodies the values ​​of honesty, robustness, and calm, which Duparcq had ample opportunity to observe firsthand in his own family. The artist's work also showcases everyday subjects borrowed from modest people, rather than imposing grand ones. The lines of this statue are straightforward and firm, adopting a natural pace that characterizes the work of a discreet sculptor who left us in 1966. The original plaster of the "Charpentier" was acquired by the city in 1933 for 16,500 francs as part of the War Damage compensation. A sum of 16,000 francs was allocated the following year to enable its realization in stone. Presented in this form at the Salon, the work joined the Jardin de la Rhônelle.