Jean-Pierre Cortot

Jean-Pierre Cortot (August 20, 1787 – August 12, 1843) was a French neo-classical sculptor.

Cortot was born and died in Paris. He was educated at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris, and won the Prix de Rome in 1809, residing in the Villa Medici in Rome from 1810 to 1813.

Cortot worked in an austere, correct, academic neo-classical style, heir to both classic French models from the late 18th century and the Greco-Roman tradition. His art took on a more romantic expression toward the end of his life.

Appointed a professor at the École, succeeding Charles Dupaty, he was made a member of the Académie des beaux-arts in 1825, again replacing Dupaty. He was made an Officer of the Légion d'honneur in 1841.

Among his students were Joseph-Marius Ramus, Jean-Jacques Feuchère, Pierre-Charles Simart, Jean-Auguste Barre, and the animalier Pierre Louis Rouillard. A street in Montmartre bears his name, and Cortot's grave can be found in Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Winning the Prix de Rome entitled him to study at the Académie de France in Rome and whilst there he completed several works which were sent back to Paris. He remained in Rome for 5 years.

at the Paris Salon in 1822 and the marble version was shown in 1834.

"ICI, FRONTON TRIANGULAIRE DE LA FAÇADE NORD : LA FRANCE, DRAPÉE À L’ANTIQUE, DEBOUT DEVANT SON TRÔNE, ACCOMPAGNÉE DE LA FORCE ET DE LA JUSTICE, APPELLE L’ÉLITE À LA CONFECTION DES LOIS, ŒUVRE DE JEAN-PIERRE CORTOT"

The building is the seat of the French National Assembly, the lower legislative chamber of the French government. Cortot's work replaced the previous sculpture by Evariste Fragonard.

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