Victor Edmond Nicolas (2 February 1906 – 16 July 1979) was a French sculptor.
Biography
Victor Nicolas was born in
Brignoles
Brignoles (; ) is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. Alongside Draguignan, it is one of two subprefectures in Var.
It was the summer residence of the counts of Provence; their ...
, France, the son of Nicolas Bertin (1879–1918), a professor of mathematics
Mort pour la France
(, ) is a legal expression in France and an honour awarded to people who died during a conflict, usually in service of the country.
Definition
The term is defined in L.488 to L.492 (bis) of the ''Code of Military Disability Pensions and War ...
canton
Canton may refer to:
Administrative divisions
* Canton (administrative division), territorial/administrative division in some countries
* Township (Canada), known as ''canton'' in Canadian French
Arts and entertainment
* Canton (band), an It ...
court of Tavernes and mayor of Montmeyan from 1886 to 1892.
He was married to Josette Behar (1911–2011), sculptor, graduated from the
in Paris, with whom he had a son, Nicolas Vincent (1934–2009).
Educated at the college of
Lorgues
Lorgues (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Var (department), Var Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region in Southeastern France.
It is situated 13 km (8 mi) southwest of the ci ...
and then in high school of
Toulon
Toulon (, , ; , , ) is a city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera and the historical Provence, it is the prefecture of the Var (department), Var department.
The Commune of Toulon h ...
, where he received a scholarship from the artists society in
Toulon
Toulon (, , ; , , ) is a city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera and the historical Provence, it is the prefecture of the Var (department), Var department.
The Commune of Toulon h ...
Paul Landowski
Paul Maximilien Landowski (1 June 1875 – 31 March 1961) was a French monument sculptor of Polish descent. His best-known work is '' Christ the Redeemer'' in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Biography
Landowski was born in Paris, France, of a Polish re ...
and Auguste Carli between 1926 and 1930. Prize Roux of the
Institut de France
The ; ) is a French learned society, grouping five , including the . It was established in 1795 at the direction of the National Convention. Located on the Quai de Conti in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the institute manages approximately ...
. Elected chairman of the Fine Arts Section from the General Association of Students of Paris in 1928.Jacques Girault, ''Dictionnaire biographique du mouvement ouvrier français'', Centre national de la recherche scientifique, tome 37, Éditions Ouvrières, 1990.
Three-time winner at the
Salon des artistes français
The Salon (), or rarely Paris Salon (French: ''Salon de Paris'' ), beginning in 1667 was the official art exhibition of the in Paris. Between 1748 and 1890 it was arguably the greatest annual or biennial art event in the Western world. At the ...
: honorable mention in 1929, bronze medal in 1933 and silver medal in 1934. Twice scholarship at the prestigious
Prix de Rome
The Prix de Rome () or Grand Prix de Rome was a French scholarship for arts students, initially for painters and sculptors, that was established in 1663 during the reign of Louis XIV of France. Winners were awarded a bursary that allowed them t ...
of sculpture in 1930 and in 1933. Has worked in the studios of the sculptors Henri-Edouard Lombard and Naoum Aronson.
Set up his studio in Montmeyan, in the former chapel of the
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, otherwise known as the Holy Ghost, is a concept within the Abrahamic religions. In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is understood as the divine quality or force of God manifesting in the world, particularly in acts of prophecy, creati ...
, in 1930. Created many monuments in the departments of Var and
Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes (; ; ; ) is a Departments of France, department of France located in the country's southeast corner, on the France–Italy border, Italian border and Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coast. Part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'A ...
Nice
Nice ( ; ) is a city in and the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one millionMontmeyan and delegate for
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
canton
Canton may refer to:
Administrative divisions
* Canton (administrative division), territorial/administrative division in some countries
* Township (Canada), known as ''canton'' in Canadian French
Arts and entertainment
* Canton (band), an It ...
court of Tavernes in 1946.
Came to painting in 1953; his paintings and drawings are exhibited on several occasions in
Artignosc-sur-Verdon
Artignosc-sur-Verdon (, "Artignosc-on- Verdon"; ), often simply referred to as Artignosc, is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. As of 2019, it had a population of 288. Artignosc-s ...
and
Draguignan
Draguignan (; ) is a commune in the Var department in the administrative region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (formerly Provence), southeastern France.
It is a sub-prefecture of the department and self-proclaimed "capital of Artillery" an ...
between 1955 and 1957.
Appointed professor of
drawing
Drawing is a Visual arts, visual art that uses an instrument to mark paper or another two-dimensional surface, or a digital representation of such. Traditionally, the instruments used to make a drawing include pencils, crayons, and ink pens, some ...
at the
École des beaux-arts
; ) refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The term is associated with the Beaux-Arts architecture, Beaux-Arts style in architecture and city planning that thrived in France and other countries during the late nineteenth centu ...
of
Toulon
Toulon (, , ; , , ) is a city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera and the historical Provence, it is the prefecture of the Var (department), Var department.
The Commune of Toulon h ...
in 1956 and taught there until the age of retirement in 1976. He died in a road accident in Montmeyan.
A posthumous exhibition of his paintings, drawings and sculptures is organised in Montmeyan in August and September 1981. The XXIVth ''Salon des imagiers'' of
Toulon
Toulon (, , ; , , ) is a city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera and the historical Provence, it is the prefecture of the Var (department), Var department.
The Commune of Toulon h ...
is dedicated to him from December 1981 to January 1982.
Work
* Monument dedicated to
Jean Aicard
Jean François Victor Aicard (4 February 1848 – 13 May 1921) was a French poet, dramatist, and novelist.
Biography
He was born in Toulon. His father, Jean Aicard, was a journalist of some distinction, and the son began his career in 1867 w ...
, jardin Alexandre 1er,
Toulon
Toulon (, , ; , , ) is a city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera and the historical Provence, it is the prefecture of the Var (department), Var department.
The Commune of Toulon h ...
, 1931 (the bronze bust was destroyed by the Germans during the occupation)
* ''Tribute to the Unknown Soldier'', plaster
bas-relief
Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces remain attached to a solid background of the same material. The term ''relief'' is from the Latin verb , to raise (). To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that th ...
, Prize Roux of the
Institut de France
The ; ) is a French learned society, grouping five , including the . It was established in 1795 at the direction of the National Convention. Located on the Quai de Conti in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the institute manages approximately ...
,
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
, 1933
* ''Fisherman pulling in his net'', plaster statue, prize Chenavard of the
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
, 1933
* '' Jacques Bonhomme'', plaster statue, silver medal of the
Salon des artistes français
The Salon (), or rarely Paris Salon (French: ''Salon de Paris'' ), beginning in 1667 was the official art exhibition of the in Paris. Between 1748 and 1890 it was arguably the greatest annual or biennial art event in the Western world. At the ...
,
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
, 1934
* Monument dedicated to Raynouard, white marble bust, place Saint-Pierre,
Brignoles
Brignoles (; ) is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. Alongside Draguignan, it is one of two subprefectures in Var.
It was the summer residence of the counts of Provence; their ...
Escragnolles
Escragnolles (; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Alpes-Maritimes Departments of France, department in southeastern France.
Landmarks
The Church of ''Saint Martin'', which dates to the 16th and 18th centuries, and the remnants of an ...
, under the chairmanship of
Paul Landowski
Paul Maximilien Landowski (1 June 1875 – 31 March 1961) was a French monument sculptor of Polish descent. His best-known work is '' Christ the Redeemer'' in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Biography
Landowski was born in Paris, France, of a Polish re ...
, 1939
* First prize in the national competition for the erection of an equestrian statue of
Nice
Nice ( ; ) is a city in and the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one millionNice
Nice ( ; ) is a city in and the prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes department in France. The Nice agglomeration extends far beyond the administrative city limits, with a population of nearly one millionLa Martre, 1947
*
Bas-relief
Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces remain attached to a solid background of the same material. The term ''relief'' is from the Latin verb , to raise (). To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that th ...
Pontevès
Pontevès () is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
See also
* Château de Pontevès
* Communes of the Var department
The following is a list of the 153 Communes of France, comm ...
, 1949
* Fresco of the Saint-Maur school,
Toulon
Toulon (, , ; , , ) is a city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera and the historical Provence, it is the prefecture of the Var (department), Var department.
The Commune of Toulon h ...
, 1963
File:Bust of Jean Aicard by the sculptor Victor Nicolas.jpg, Monument dedicated to
Jean Aicard
Jean François Victor Aicard (4 February 1848 – 13 May 1921) was a French poet, dramatist, and novelist.
Biography
He was born in Toulon. His father, Jean Aicard, was a journalist of some distinction, and the son began his career in 1867 w ...
Paul Vaillant-Couturier
Paul Vaillant-Couturier (; 8 January 1892 – 10 October 1937) was a French writer and communist. He participated in the founding of the French Communist Party (PCF) in 1920.
Biography
Born into a family of actors, Vaillant-Couturier studied la ...
(plaster model, 1938).
File:Statue of Jeanne d'Arc by the sculptor Victor Nicolas.jpg, Equestrian statue of
(model for national competition, 1943).
File:@Masque de Jeune Fille.jpg, Girl mask (plaster model, 1946).
File:Dance in Nice.jpg, Statue '' The danse '', open air theater, jardin Albert 1er, Nice (plaster model, 1947).
File:Statue of The tragedy by the sculptor Victor Nicolas.jpg, Statue ''The tragedy'', open air theater, jardin Albert 1er, Nice (monumental statue, 1947).
File:The monument of Bessillon by the sculptor Victor Nicolas.jpg, Monument dedicated to the heroes and martyrs of the Bessillon in Pontevès (overview,1949).
File:Head of young lady by the sculptor Victor Nicolas.jpg, Head of a young woman (plaster model, 1950).
File:Woman sitting.jpg, Woman sitting (plaster model, 1953).