The Dawn at The Jardin des Grands Explorateurs, Paris

myminifactory

This stunning group sculpture carved in marble was masterfully sculpted by French artist Francois Jouffrey, a man of great talent who brought his creations to life from February 1, 1806 until June 25, 1882. Born in Dijon to a baker father and raised in the local drawing school, Jouffrey's passion for art led him to Paris in 1824 where he enrolled at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts. In 1832, his exceptional skills earned him the esteemed Prix de Rome award, a distinction that recognized his outstanding contributions to the world of art. Throughout his career, Jouffroy frequently competed with fellow artist Pierre-Jean David d'Angers for public commissions, but despite this intense competition, he continued to excel during the Second Empire (1851-1870) by contributing to the decoration of several prominent public buildings. Under his guidance, talented students such as Jean Dampt and Adrien Étienne Gaudez flourished, further solidifying Jouffrey's reputation as a respected mentor in the art world. Tragically, Jouffroy passed away in Laval, Mayenne on May 25, 1882. The Dawn (L'aurore), an exquisite sculpture part of a series located within the Jardin des Grands Explorateurs, beautifully captures the essence of Romanticism's growing influence on art during the 1800s. As French sculptors sought innovative ways to express their subjects through allegorical artworks, Jouffrey's creation stood out as a masterpiece that embodied the spirit of the times. This breathtaking series presents the personification of time's passage, and in "The Dawn," we see a woman standing triumphantly above a man who lies sleeping with his eyes closed, as if waiting for her touch to awaken him. This incredible sculpture is part of the remarkable "Scan The World" initiative, a non-profit project launched by MyMiniFactory that aims to create a comprehensive digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe. This open-source community effort invites anyone with interesting items to contribute by emailing stw@myminifactory.com to learn how they can help bring these treasures to life for the public to enjoy freely.