Drawing xix charcoal academic study antique bust niobe signed pierre vaillant 1896, beaux arts paris

Large charcoal drawing: antique bust of a woman, signed lower right vaillant p. Niobé 96 (pierre vaillant 1896) numbered 10 upper left. Format 29 X 45cm on thick drawing paper. Frameless. On the back mention in pencil: "pierre henri vaillant (1878 - 1939) beaux arts paris 1896 charcoal black". This academic study was probably carried out during the artist's time at the school of fine arts. In greek mythology, niobe is the legendary queen of phrygia, daughter of tantalus and dione and wife of amphion with whom she had a dozen children. They were killed by apollo and artemis because niobe had the insolence to compare himself to their mother the goddess leto who had only two children. Niobe was changed by zeus into a rock from which sprang a spring fed by his tears of pain. Pierre henri vaillant is a french painter from chartres. He studied at the school of fine arts in paris in the studios of jean-léon gérôme and marcel baschet and exhibited from 1905 at the salon des artistes français. In 1921, he was appointed to the national society of fine arts and in 1930 professor at the académie de la grande-chaumière. In 1937, he received the highest award at the universal exhibition. Rolled packaged weight 250g.