Armand Petersen (1891-1969) - Lot 234

Armand Petersen (1891-1969) The Lama Model created in 1937 Bronze with light-brown patina Signed "A. PETERSEN Stamped "CIRE PERDUE BISCEGLIA". H. 35.5 cm, terrace W. 18.2 x D. 9.4 cm Provenance: Private collection, Paris; by descent Related literature: -Liliane Colas, Petersen : sculpteur animalier, Bry-sur-Marne, 2004, model listed under no. 50, pp. 116-117. Born in Basel, Armand Petersen trained at the École d'Arts Industriels in Geneva. After a brief stay in Paris in 1914, he joined the studio of sculptor Bêla Markup in Budapest. Here, in addition to learning to model, he received perhaps the most important lesson for his future creations: the discovery of animal art and the observation of live models in the Hungarian capital's zoological park. He continued to perfect his work, always striving for elegance and purity of line. Between the wars, with François Pompon at the forefront, a group of sculptors wrote what is commonly considered the "golden age" of animal art. Although Petersen was not a formal member of the "Groupe des Douze" surrounding Pompon, due to his Swiss nationality, he was a distinguished guest. He accompanied the Master of Saulieu to the Jardin des Plantes and presented his work alongside the most prominent animal sculptors at the historic Galerie Brandt exhibition in 1927.