ADOLESCENTE

ADOLESCENTE (ALPHONSE DARVILLE)

In a letter, from Alphonse Darville to Kunst in de Stad, dated March 12, 1988, the artist offers them an early work in marble, on the condition that they pay its transportation costs. He calls it "La statue de marbre de mes 20 ans". The work had until then been displayed in a niche in the hall of his home in Mont-sur-Marchienne.

Since it was the artist's wish to have it placed in a location where it is protected, it was placed in the Salons, in agreement with the city authorities.

With this statue Alphonse Darville pays tribute to beauty. A young girl stands in a frontal position, hands on her back and her right leg slightly raised. This enhances the gracious character of the statue, even more so when observed from the side. Alphonse Darville was clearly influenced by ancient art, particularly by Greek sculpture. Throughout his life he remained enthralled by ancient cultures. In Greek art he admired the pursuit of the ideal shape and the human body’s pure anatomy; for pristine lines and perfection, for harmony and absolute beauty.

DARVILLE Alphonse (1910-1990)

Sculptor, draughtsman, medal designer and ceramist Alphonse Darville was born in Mont-sur-Marchienne, and died in 1990 in Charleroi. He studied at the Academy of Brussels (1924-1928) and was a pupil of (among others), Victor Rousseau (1865-1954). He is the founder and head of the Academy for Fine Arts of Charleroi (1946-1972). He is co-founder of ‘L'Art vivant au Pays de Charleroi (Living Art in the Land of Charleroi)’. His work can be found a.o in the museums of Liège, Mons and Charleroi. He got an official commission to make monumental sculptures such as the ‘Bouwmeester (Master Builder)’ in front of the façade of the Palais des Expositions in Charleroi. Other works of his are bas-reliefs above the entrance of the Palace for Fine Arts and a bas-relief in gilded bronze, ‘La Gloire et la Paix’ for the entrance hall of the Charleroi city hall. He got the ‘Godecharle prize’ in 1931, ’Prize of Rome’ in 1935 for the work ‘Torse de jeune fille (torso of young girl)’ (Palace of Fine Arts, Charleroi).