Roger GODCHAUX (1878-1958) - Lot 44

Roger GODCHAUX (1878-1958) Lioness Terracotta sculpture, signed on the base and dated 1931. Dedicated to Dr. Mozer, "his devoted friend". Dimensions: 20 x 35 cm. Roger Godchaux, French sculptor, painter and draughtsman, is best known for his realistic and sensitive animal works. Born in Vendôme on December 21, 1878 into a family where art was a constant presence - his father was an antiques dealer and his mother a concert pianist - he cultivated his attraction to the arts from an early age. Trained at the Académie Julian in Paris from 1896, under masters such as Jules Adler and Jean-Léon Gérôme, Godchaux also drew inspiration from the work of Antoine-Louis Barye, the famous 19th-century animal sculptor. Specializing in the depiction of animals, notably wildcats and elephants, he favors an intimate, natural approach, capturing simple, authentic postures far removed from dramatic staging. His mastery is expressed in bronze, terracotta and stoneware, collaborating with prestigious founders such as Susse Frères, Valsuani and Gatti. A regular prize-winner at the Salon des artistes français - including a silver medal in 1925 - he is renowned for his keen sense of form, movement and the understated expression of his subjects. His works such as Panther Walking, Lioness Smelling and Elephant Trotting bear witness to this delicacy and accuracy in rendering animal behavior. The sculpture presented here, a lioness in terracotta, signed and dated 1931, is a perfect illustration of this sensitive work, faithful to nature. The dedication "to Dr. Mozer, his devoted friend" adds a personal and historical dimension to the work. Roger Godchaux died in Paris on March 6, 1958. His work remains a precious testimony to the naturalist tradition in animal sculpture, enriched by a sincere emotion and elegant simplicity that continue to seduce collectors and art lovers alike. Provenance: Estate of Docteur Marius Mozer by descent.