Les Animaliers 1900 to 1950
Exhibition
In November 2019 Sladmore mounted a major exhibition of Animalier works by each of the 40 artists featured in Edward Horswell’s latest book, ‘Sculpture of Les Animaliers 1900-1950’. Around 100 sculptures illustrated in the book were displayed at the gallery, in this landmark exhibition.
The first half of the twentieth century marked the heyday of animal sculpture throughout Europe. This exhibition examined impressionist modellers such as Bugatti and Degas, alongside Pompon and Sandoz amongst others, who as carvers produced sculpture with smoother planes and sleeker lines. The exhibition celebrated the diversity of nature, valued by sculptors for its intrinsic beauty, movement and form.
Publication
This first truly comprehensive survey ‘Sculpture of Les Animaliers 1900-1950’ by gallery director Edward Horswell showcases the work of 40 artists who were at the forefront of the Animalier movement between 1900 and 1950. Published by Scala Arts & Heritage Publishers, it draws on the rich archive of the Sladmore Gallery, with over 350 colour photographs, individual biographies and two informative essays, this book contains a wealth of information for both established collectors and those new to the subject. It is a companion volume to Jane Horswell’s pioneering Bronze Sculpture of Les Animaliers, which covered the nineteenth century and was published almost 50 years ago.
Film Series
To celebrate this major exhibition at our Jermyn Street gallery and the publication of ‘Sculpture of Les Animaliers 1900-1950’ by Edward Horswell, during lockdown we commissioned a series of short films. The first film below offers an overview and tour of the exhibition, followed by ten in-depth films on the leading Animalier sculptors from this period.
