PIERRE LE FAGUAYS 'The trophy' cast iron sculpture with green patina, 20th c

1. Description of the work:
This sculpture in green patinated bronze depicts a male athlete seated on a black marble pedestal, raising high a laurel sprig - a symbol of victory. His muscular body, stretched skyward, expresses his aspiration for excellence. The gaze turned towards his raised hand suggests pride and the quest for glory. The modeling is precise, faithful to the anatomy and imbued with classical idealism. The verdigris patina reinforces the antique effect, while the dynamic pose betrays an Art Deco influence, both stylized and monumental.

2. Artistic context:
Produced in the first half of the 20th century, this work is fully in line with the Art Deco movement, which valued pure forms, elegance and restrained power. In contrast to abstraction, Art Deco exalted the idealized human figure, often in connection with themes of sport, speed and heroism. The laurel branch, typical of Antiquity, and the athletic style recall the modern Olympic Games and their universal dimension. The classical treatment of the body also evokes Greek sculpture, while adapting to the geometric rigor of Art Deco.

3. Artist biography: Pierre Le Faguays (1892-1962):
Born in Rezé, Pierre Le Faguays was a French sculptor, draughtsman and decorator trained at the école des Beaux-Arts in Geneva. Along with Marcel Bouraine and Max Le Verrier, he was one of the great Art Deco sculptors. Using a variety of materials (bronze, marble, terracotta), he specialized in sports, female and mythological figures. He sometimes signed under the pseudonyms "Guerbe" or "Fayral". His style combines dynamism, elegance and balance. Le Faguays exhibited regularly at the Salon des Artistes Français and had a profound impact on the decorative aesthetics of the interwar period.