Volumnia at The Fine Arts Museum in Ghent, Belgium

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Paul de Vigne, a renowned Belgian sculptor born in 1843 at Ghent, began his artistic journey under the guidance of his father, a skilled statuary. De Vigne made his debut by exhibiting Fra Angeico da Fiesole at the Ghent Salon in 1868, showcasing his remarkable talent from an early age. In 1872, he exhibited Heliotrope, a stunning marble statue, at the Brussels Salon, which was later displayed at the Ghent Gallery. De Vigne's exceptional skills caught the attention of the government, who commissioned him to create caryatides for the ornate facade of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. In 1875, he unveiled Beatrix and Domenica at the Brussels exhibition, solidifying his reputation as a master sculptor. In 1876, De Vigne showcased his remarkable busts of E. Hid and W. Wilson at the Antwerp Salon, which were later placed in the communal museum at Brussels. His subsequent move to Paris marked a new chapter in his career, where he produced Immortality, a breathtaking marble statue displayed at the Brussels Gallery. The Crowning of Art, a bronze group on the facade of the Palais des Beaux-Arts at Brussels, was another notable creation by De Vigne during his time in Paris. His iconic monument to Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck was unveiled at Bruges in 1887, honoring two popular heroes. At the time of his passing, De Vigne left behind an unfinished masterpiece, the Anspach monument, which was later completed under the direction of architect Janlet with the assistance of various skilled sculptors. Among his other notable works are Volumnia; Poverella (1878); a bronze bust of Psyche displayed at the Brussels Gallery; and an ivory replica; the marble statue of Marnix de Ste Aldegonde on the Sablon Square, Brussels. The Metdepenningen monument in the cemetery at Ghent and the monument to Canon de Haerne at Kortrijk are also testaments to De Vigne's exceptional talent.