Mercie, Marius Jean Antonin (French, 1845-1916)

Marius Jean Antonin Mercié (1845-1916) was a French sculptor and painter, who was famous for his monumental bronze works, many of which adorn prestigious public spaces across the world today.

Mercié studied at l’École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, under the tutelage of Alexandre Falguière and François Jouffroy. In 1868, at the young age of twenty three, Mercié won the Grand Prix de Rome for his artistic skill. However, Mercié’s first great popular success was at the Paris Salon a few years later, where his works were met with critical acclaim and received the Medal of Honour.

The artist was later appointed Professor of Drawing and Sculpture at l’École des Beaux-Arts, and was elected a member of the Académie Française in 1891, after being awarded the biennial prize of the Institute of 800 in 1887. Mercié was subsequently awarded the Légion d'Honneur, and in 1913 became the president of the Société des Artistes Français.