“The Standing Bear” by Maximilien-Louis Fiot

The sculpture by Maximilien-Louis Fiot depicts a bear, mouth open, standing on its two hind legs. The posture and the detailed musculature of the animal perfectly illustrate the bear’s power. The subject, with its ears laid back, seems ready to fight or at least to intimidate anyone who approaches.

The Standing Bear » by Maximilien-Louis Fiot (Tourraine, 1886 – 1953)

The artist Maximilien-Louis Fiot masterfully plays with the different textures and materials that make up the animal. The bear’s fur, to which the sculptor has added movement, and the shade of the patina, reminiscent of the animal’s natural coat, are particularly noteworthy. Additionally, the attention to detail in the bear’s mouth, such as the fangs, makes this sculpture even more impressive.

This model is a unique workshop piece that has never been on the art market for the past 40 years. The sculpture has been carefully kept within a French family, possessing a significant private collection, for three generations. “The Standing Bear” is therefore a highly prized and extremely rare work by the artist.

The French sculptor Maximilien-Louis Fiot (Tourraine, 1886 – 1953)

Maximilien-Louis Fiot, known as Maximilien Fiot (1886-1953), is distinguished as a renowned French sculptor. Trained under the sculptor Prosper Lecourtier, he made his debut at the Paris Salon between 1910 and 1914. As an active member of the Salon des Artistes Français, he was awarded a third-class medal in 1911, followed by a second-class medal in 1923. Specializing in animal sculpture, Fiot contributed, during the interwar period, to the creation of war memorials, like many artists of his time. In 1930, he created for La Ferté-Alais, where his mother resided, the work entitled « The Lion Watching Over the Children Who Died for the Fatherland ».

The artist M.L. Fiot favored representations of animals, such as birds, dogs, cats, and various wild animals including wolves, deer, lions, and panthers. His artistic approach is decidedly modern, characterized by a dynamism and simplicity that set him apart from other sculptors of his time, who were often more inclined to adopt a static style inspired by Art Deco. Fiot’s bronze works are particularly remarkable for their capture of movement, imparting a vitality and impressive realism to his subjects.