Jean-Baptiste Pigalle

Who was Jean-Baptiste Pigalle?

Jean-Baptiste Pigalle was a French sculptor.

He was born in Paris, the seventh child of a carpenter. Although he failed to obtain the Grand Prix, after a severe struggle he entered the Académie Royale and became one of the most popular sculptors of his day.

His earlier work, such as Child with Cage and Mercury Fastening his Sandals, is less commonplace than that of his more mature years, but his nude statue of Voltaire, dated 1776, and his tombs of Comte d'Harcourt and of Marshal Saxe, completed in 1777, are good examples of French sculpture in the 18th century.

His name is most commonly known because of the Pigalle red-light district in Paris, located around the square of the same name.

He died in Paris.