Terracotta Signed U Gémignani

Group of 3 seated terracotta monks signed Ulysse Gémignani. Terracotta with a striking emotional intensity fixed on a wooden base. with long base 49.5 x height 29 x width 22.5 without base 44 x 24.5 x17
Ulysse Jean-Baptiste Antonin Marius Gemignani was born in the 13th arrondissement of Paris on December 21, 1906. Entered the National School of Fine Arts in Paris, where he was a student of Jean-Antoine Injalbert then of Henri Bouchard, he exhibited at the Salon of French Artists in 1929. After obtaining a first second Grand Prix de Rome for sculpture in 1932, he was crowned the following year by the first grand prize with Orphée calms the storm. He stayed at the Villa Medici between 1934 and 1937 and there met Yvonne Desportes who had won the first Grand Prix de Rome for musical composition the previous year. She became his wife and the couple had three children including Vincent, composer and percussionist, and Michel Gémignani, painter, Prix de Rome in 19662. The family resided in Méricourt in Yvelines. In 1937, he received a gold medal at the Salon and was classified out of competition. He became a member of the jury for the Salon of French Artists, then that of the Prix de Rome. He was named Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1955. He died on January 21, 1973 at his Parisian home in the 14th arrondissement of Paris.