Charles-Louis Corbet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Louis Corbet
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Portrait by Louis-Léopold Boilly, c. 1800
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| Born | January, 1758 Douai, France
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| Died | 10 December 1808 (aged 50) Paris, France
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| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Sculptor |
| Known for | Bust of Napoleon |
Charles-Louis Corbet (born January 1758 – died December 10, 1808) was a talented French sculptor. He is famous for his sculpture of Napoleon and a statue of a French soldier called a Dragoon. This statue stands proudly on the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Paris.
Contents
Early Life and Art Training
Charles-Louis Corbet was born in 1758 in a French town called Douai. He was baptized on January 27, 1758. He began his art studies in Douai. Later, he moved to Paris to learn from the famous sculptor Pierre-François Berruer. Corbet was very good at his work. He even won a special medal from the Royal Academy of Art. In 1780, when he was 22, he moved to Lille. There, he joined the local art academy. He became a full member after finishing a sculpture called Mort de Méléagre. Between 1782 and 1790, Corbet created many portraits and busts. These were often made from terracotta, a type of clay. In 1790, he made a terracotta bust of King Louis XVI.
The French Revolution
Corbet was a big supporter of the French Revolution. This important event began in France in 1789. In October 1793, Corbet became the librarian at the École Centrale. He held this job for at least five years. He was asked to create a statue that would represent Liberty. He finished a plaster model of this statue in September 1794. He planned to make a marble version, but it was never started. There are not many records of the artworks Corbet made between 1793 and 1799.
Later Years and Famous Works
After the Revolution, Corbet received an important job from the government. He was asked to create a bust of the young general, Napoleon Bonaparte. The first plaster model was about 33 inches (84 cm) tall. It was shown in an art show in July 1798. Napoleon must have posed for Corbet between December 1797 and May 1798. The bust shows Napoleon as a handsome and brave leader. In 1800, Corbet showed a marble version of the bust. It was called General Bonaparte, made by order of the Directory during the Egyptian campaign. Many copies of this bust were made. You can find them in famous places like the Château de Malmaison and the Palace of Versailles. Bronze and marble copies were also made later on.
Corbet moved to Paris for good. In 1801, he showed a very large bust of the French Republic. This work earned him an honorable mention. Two years later, he finished another marble copy of Napoleon's bust. By then, Napoleon was the First Consul of France. This new version was very polished and well-liked. Corbet was also asked to create a statue of a French dragoon soldier. This statue is now on the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Paris. He also made a statue of General Caffarelli for the Senate stairway. Corbet died in 1808. He was not married and did not have any children.
Images for kids
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Bust of the architect Thomas-Joseph Gombert (1782)
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Bust of Napoleon, Musée des Canonniers, Lille (1798)
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Dragoon on the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel (1806)
See also
In Spanish: Charles-Louis Corbet para niños
