Charles MALFRAY (1887-1940) - Woman in antique style

"Woman in the Antique Style

Proof in bronze with strongly shaded brown patina
Cast by Lucien Thinot - Fondeur à Paris
Signed on the plinth on the right
Fondeur's mark on back of baseboard
Numbered 5/8
Circa 1940

Height : 26,5 cm
Width: 8 cm - Depth: 6 cm

Biography :


Born July 19, 1887 in Orléans - Died May 28, 1940 in Dijon

Born into a family of stonemasons and architects, Alexandre Charles Malfray apprenticed with Orléans master Alfred Lanso.

A student at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts d'Orléans, he graduated top of his class.

In 1904, he attended the Ecole des Arts Décoratifs de Paris and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Paris, and frequented the artistic circles of Montmartre.

He was fascinated by the work of Auguste Rodin and Antoine Bourdelle.

In 1916, he survived the hell of the battle of Verdun, where he was gassed and remained in frail health.

In 1920, he won the second Prix de Rome, the first prize going to Charles Georges Cassou.

That same year, he created the "Monuments au Morts" at Pithiviers and Orléans, whose modernism was much debated.

Ruined by these works, and ill as a result of the war, he decided to give up sculpture. But in 1931, his friend Aristide Maillol appointed him as his successor at the Académie Ranson. His students included Etienne Martin, François Stahly and Jean Le Moal, and he returned to the path of creation.

Supported by Education Minister Jean Zay, Charles Malfray received several major commissions, notably in 1936 for the Palais de Chaillot (Le Printemps) and in 1938 for a public garden in Limoges (La Source du Taurion).

He died suddenly in 1940 during a visit to Dijon, stopping off at a pharmacist's store for his aunt.


Charles Malfray said: "Sculpture, no more than painting, is not intended to represent nature. On the contrary, nature is merely a pretext and a means of manifesting the self. Art must be a pure creation of the brain and the heart".