A Life in Sculpture and Medals
Born in Besançon, France, Jean Petit was a sculptor and medalist who dedicated his life to the mastery of form. After studying at the municipal school, he moved to Paris to attend the Petite école de la rue de l'École-de-Médecine. His talent was evident early on, as he entered the École des beaux-arts de Paris as a medalist and became a student of David d'Angers. During this period, he contributed to the sculptures of the Panthéon's pediment. His academic journey included competing for the prix de Rome, where he received a second grand prize for a bas-relief titled Le Serment des sept chefs devant Thèbes.
Petit's pursuit of artistic excellence led him to Italy, a journey he undertook at his own expense to study the works of Antiquity and the Renaissance. His travels took him through Milan, Pise, Carrare, Pérouse, Venice, Florence, Naples, and Pompeii, with a significant stay in Rome, where he sculpted a bust of Pope Pius IX.
Artistic Commissions and Legacy
Throughout his career, Petit engaged in various decorative works and monumental commissions. His contributions to the urban landscape of Paris included:
His notable sculptural works include marble busts of Charles Nodier and Abbé Boisot, as well as a bronze medallion of Le Baron Martin de Gray. Through his testament, he established a reward for historical composition, painting, or sculpture subjects related to the Comtois region.
