At the crossroads of Classicism and Art Nouveau, Alfred Finot embodied the poetic elegance of the Belle Époque.

Alfred Finot was a French sculptor born in Nancy in 1876. He trained at the Nancy School of Fine Arts between 1889 and 1894, studying sculpture under Ernest Bussière (1863-1913) before joining the studio of Louis-Ernest Barrias (1841-1905) at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1895. His academic education and exposure to leading artists of the time enabled him to develop a refined style that bridged classical tradition and the expressive elegance of Art Nouveau.

Finot first exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1897. By 1904, he had become a regular exhibitor, notably presenting La Jeunesse passe (“Youth Passes”) at the Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Nancy. That same year, he joined the board of directors of the Nancy School, affirming his key role within the regional and national artistic landscape.

His work is defined by graceful forms, symbolic content, and poetic naturalism. He was particularly admired for his bronze sculptures, including Midinette (c. 1900, Musée d’Orsay, Paris) and Nymphe se mirant (1900, Musée de l’École de Nancy). His public commissions include the Monument to Charles Sellier (c. 1900, Nancy) and the architectural bas-relief for the Brasserie de Champigneulles (1913).

As a member of the Société des Artistes Français, Finot received an honourable mention in 1908. In 1935, he exhibited Le Baiser, a bronze group that confirmed the continuity of his artistic vision well into the interwar period.

Alfred Finot’s sculptural legacy reflects the evolution of early 20th-century French art—from academic precision to decorative modernity—while preserving an enduring sense of refinement, sensuality, and lyrical emotion.

Literature :

• BENEZIT, E. Dictionnaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs. Paris: Librairie Gründ, 1961. Vol.3. p. 758.

• BERMAN, H. Bronzes Sculptors & Founders 1800-1930. 1st ed. Illinois : Abage Publishers, 1981. Vol. 3. p. 779.

• DUBARRY DE LASSALE, J. Identification des marbres. 1st ed. Turin(Italie) : H.Vial, 2000. p. 210-211.