Pierre De Soete Noirot From The Brussels African Folklore Conservatory

Superb silver patina sculpture. Born in 1886 in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean (Brussels), Pierre de Soete was put to work at the age of eight. Unfortunately for him, life did not give him a gift since he became an orphan at the age of fourteen. He then decided to enroll in the Drawing Academy of Molenbeek. At the same time, he initiated himself into modeling clay. In order to meet his needs, Pierre de Soete is obliged to find work. And it is these small jobs that will change the course of his life. Indeed, in 1900 he found himself in the polishing workshop of the Compagnie des Bronzes in Brussels. He was then promoted and became head of the designer's workshop where he saw sculptures by Julien Dillens, Constantin Meunier and Jef Lambeaux pass through his hands. He takes the opportunity to observe the works of his great sculptors, which will not fail to fuel his passion for sculpture. He then decides to become a sculptor and for this he follows a short initiation to drawing at the Academy of Molenbeek. In 1911, a bronze foundry in Anderlecht entrusted him with the management of one of its departments.