HISTORY
IrÃénée ROCHARD was born in Villefranche sur Saône in 1906, In a family of artists: his mother was a painter and his brother became The actor-singer Armand MESTRAL
When he chose the course of an artist's life too, he soon turned to animal Sculpting in order to,as he used to say: pay tribute to animal
In 22 years, on leaving the Beaux-Arts School,he was the first prize-winner for A life-size panther.Many other distinctions followed,all along his career.
Between the two world wars,he frequently met with the circles of animal Sculpture artists, mainly with FranÃois POMPOM and Marcel Edouard SANDOZ
He expressed his talents through bronze,a few ceramics and carvings straight From wood,granite or marbre.
He constantly used to give a manner of intelligence to his animals,to bring out Their personality,their gentleness or their fierceness.
Tirelessly,he created hundreds of animals in their daily attitudes with such a Delicacy that we are brought to think they stood still only for an instant, Just to be admired.
Such was the case with his creation of horses,monkeys,gazelles,panthers Bear-cubs,ducks,bisons,pelicans,dromedaries,dogs,ect...
His modern workmanship gives them the typical suppleness and gracefulness of their shapes
Well-served by outstanding gifts of observation and composition,ROCHARD Always kept developing his talent,ever looking out for creation and Pleased to realize it Inventive for days on,he died in Paris in 1984
Historical background by his son,Gérard ROCHARD Quotations from Dr.HACHET's: Animal Bronzes from Antiquity to these days.
