Aristide Maillol

Aristide Maillol was born on December 8th 1861 in Banyuls-sur-Mer, France. He was a sculptor, painter, and printmaker. He was interested in art from an early age and wanted to become a painter. In 1885, Maillol was admitted to the Ecole des Beaux-arts in Paris where he studied with Jean-Paul Laurens, Gerome, and Cabanel. Disenchanted by the teaching of Fine Arts and interested in the decorative arts and the work of Paul Gauguin and Maurice Denis, Maillol took an interest in tapestry around 1893. He regularly exhibited at the Salon de la Societe Nationale des Beaux-arts where he sent tapestries, wood carvings, small sculptures and enamelled ceramics. In 1895, he created a tapestry workshop in Banyuls. Beginning in 1900, Maillol was close to the Nabis artists Maurice Denis, Ker Xavier Roussel, Edouard Vuillard, Pierre Bonnard (and later, Henri Matisse). At that time, he turned exclusively to sculpture. In 1902, the art dealer Ambrose Vollard organized Maillol's first solo exhibition of 33 works. The critic and art historian Meier-Graefe devoted a chapter to him in his book on modern art. In 1904, Maillol met Count Kessler, a wealthy art collector who became the artist's greatest admirer and patron. Maillol had his first great success at the 1905 Salon d'Automne with Mediterranee. The sculptor exhibited a plaster statue, Pomona, at the Salon d'Automne of 1910 which was purchased by the Russian collector, Morozov. In 1913, Maillol's first exhibition was held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In 1934, Dina Vierny became Maillol's muse and model and would remain so until his death. Maillol retired to Banyuls in 1939. On September 27, 1944, Maillol died of complications as a result of an automobile accident. Maillol was one of the most famous sculptors of his time. His work inspired artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Henry Moore.