A life

Son of a cabinetmaker, Émile Antoine Bourdelle was born in Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne).
He studied at the École des Beaux-arts de Toulouse and then joined the studio of sculptor Alexandre Falguière at the École de Beaux-arts de Paris. He settled in Montparnasse, at 16 impasse du Maine (now the Bourdelle Museum). He lived and worked in this city of artists for over 40 years.
Herakles the Archer was a great success at the Salon de la Société nationale des beaux-arts in 1910. The work constitutes a manifesto of modern sculpture. Bourdelle found his personal path, marked by a sense of construction and synthetic forms (Head of Apollo, Penelope).
In 1910-1913, Bourdelle created the bas-reliefs for the façade of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées as well as the interior frescoes.
Bourdelle taught for 20 years at the Grande-Chaumière Academy and in its workshops. He trained more than 500 students from all over the world.
From 1919, he received major monumental commissions: Virgin of the Offering (Alsace), France and the Monument to General Alvear (Buenos Aires, Argentina).
Bourdelle died in Le Vésinet in 1929.

1861

Birth of Émile Antoine Bourdelle on October 30th in Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne).

**Achille Bouïs, "Antoine Bourdelle at the age of eight", 1869 (MBPH0034)**
*domaine public*

1876

At the age of 14, Bourdelle receives a grant and joins the École des Beaux-Arts in Toulouse.

1884

Ranking second on the entrance exam for the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, he enrols in the sculptor Alexandre Falguière’s worshop, which he leaves two years later.

1885

Bourdelle moves to 16 impasse du Maine (current Rue Antoine Bourdelle), where he would work until his death. His parents move in with him in 1886.

**Attributed to Emile Antoine Bourdelle, "View of Antoine Bourdelle's apartment, Impasse du Maine, in Paris" first half of the 20th century (MBPV277)**
*domaine public*

1893-1908

Bourdelle is hired as a practitioner by Auguste Rodin and prepares marble blocks for him until 1908.

1895-1902

He is chosen by the city Montauban to create the Monument aux Combattants et Défenseurs du Tarn-et-Garonne de 1870-1871 [Memorial to the Dead, Warriors and Servants of Tarn-et-Garonne from 1870-1871].

**Attributed to Emile Antoine Bourdelle, "Bourdelle's Monument des Combattants exhibited at the Société nationale des Beaux-arts in Paris in 1902", 1902 (MBPV1095)**
*Domaine public*

1901

Birth of Pierre, son of Bourdelle and Stéphanie Van Parys, whom he marries three years later, with Rodin as his witness.

1904

He meets Cléopâtre Sevastos, a young Greek student who would become his muse, then his second wife in 1912.

1905

First personal exhibition in the gallery of the founder Hébrard in Paris.

1909

Bourdelle completes Héraklès archer [Hercules the Archer], as well as Tête d’Apollon [Head of Apollo] – twos modern manifestos.
He also start teaching at the académie de la Grande-Chaumière.

**Attributed to Emile Antoine Bourdelle, "Head of Apollo by Bourdelle", 1912-1929 (MBPV100)**
*domaine public*

1910

Héraklès archer [Hercules the Archer], shown in bronze at the Salon de la Société nationale des Beaux-Arts, receives critical acclaim and earns a 50-year-old Bourdelle financial comfort. Bourdelle divorces Stéphanie.

**Anonymous, "Antoine Bourdelle in front of the plaster cast of Héraklès archer", 1909-1929 (MBPV697)**
*domaine public*

1911

Cléopâtre, having sought refuge in Greece, gives birth to their daughter, Rhodia.

1912

At the Salon de la Société nationale des Beaux-Art, Pénélope [Penelope] brings about a revolution in French plastic Arts.

**Attributed to Emile Antoine Bourdelle, "Pénélope de Bourdelle", 1905-1929 (MBPV1257)**
*domaine public*

1913

Inauguration of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, for which Bourdelle provided architectural studies, and executed low reliefs for the façade as well as interior frescoes.

**Emile Antoine Bourdelle, "Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, eleventh study of the second facade", n.d. (MBD2009)**
*domaine public*

1914

Bourdelle wins recognition during the Venice Biennale, where thirty artworks are shown. He puts the final touch to Centaure mourant [Dying Centaur].

**Attributed to Emile Antoine Bourdelle, "Bourdelle's Dying Centaur in the Workshop", n.d. (MBPV419)**
*Domaine public*

1919-1926

He starts receiving large official commissions: Vierge à l’offrande [Virgin of the Offering] (1919-1923), La France (1925), Monument au général Alvear [Monument to General Alvear] (1913-1923).

Chantier de taille de la Vierge à l’offrande pour Niederbruck : Antoine Bourdelle sur l’échafaudage — **Anonymous, "Cutting site of the Virgin at the offering for Niederbruck : Antoine Bourdelle on the scaffolding", 1922 (MBPV1822)**
*domaine public*

**Attributed to Emile Antoine Bourdelle, "Bourdelle's France at the Rudier foundry, Rodin's Age of Bronze", 1925-1926 (MBPV555)**
*domaine public*

1929

Inauguration of the Monument à Mickiewicz [Monument to Mickiewicz] in Paris (Place de l’Alma).
Already sick, Bourdelle passes away at his friend’s house, the founder Eugène Rudier, in le Vésinet.

1931

Major retrospective of Bourdelle’s work at the Musée de l’Orangerie, which includes 128 paintings, drawings and watercolours, and 200 sculptures.

**Anonymous, "Retrospective exhibition of Bourdelle at the Orangerie: large room with the dying Centaur, the Eloquence of the Monument to Alvear", 1931**
*domaine public*

1938

Bourdelle’s workshops open to the public within the building of the future museum.

1949

Inauguration of the Bourdelle museum.

1961

Inauguration of the of Plasters casts hall, first extension of the museum, based on architectural plans by Henri Gautruche.

1992

Second extension of the museum with the contemporary wing designed by Christian de Portzamparc.

2002

Death of Rhodia Dufet Bourdelle who, following two donations, leaves her father’s entire collections to the City of Paris.

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