Alfred Boucher Au But

The son of a farm worker, Alfred Boucher was born in 1850 in the French commune of Bouy-sur-Orvin and rose to prominence as a prolific, award-winning artist during the late 19th century, producing meticulously detailed sculptures for the likes of royalty and presidents.

When he was young, the Boucher family moved to Nogent-sur-Seine where his father secured gardening work for sculptor Joseph-Marius Ramus. Ramus, who worked in the neoclassical style, saw potential in Boucher. He invited him to work in his studio and helped him get a scholarship to Beaux-Arts de Paris when Boucher was 19 years old.

In Paris, Boucher studied under esteemed sculptors Augustin Dumont and Paul Dubois. He began to develop a unique style characterized by a sense of life, movement and symbolism. While Boucher is known as an academic sculptor, his work usually paid tribute to day laborers — an understandable endeavor given his father’s role as a farmhand. 

As his profile grew, Boucher also secured commissions to create busts of prominent figures in the scientific community as well as politicians. The artist became friendly with Auguste Rodin — widely considered the father of modern sculpture — and mentored Laure Coutan and Camille Claudel. Later, in 1902, Boucher founded the low-cost studios La Ruche in Montparnasse to support young artists.

Boucher participated at his first salon in 1874, winning a bronze medal. He later lived in Italy and further honed his skills, and was awarded the Prix du Salon in 1881. He received the Grand Prix at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900.

Boucher was promoted to Grand Officer in the Légion d'Honneur in 1925 and passed away in 1934.

Find original Alfred Boucher sculptures and other art on 1stDibs.

Styling your home with vintage, new and antique sculptures means adding a touch that can meaningfully transform the space. By introducing a sculptural work as a decorative finish to any interior, you’re making a statement, whether you tend toward the dramatic or prefer to keep things casual with modest, understated art.

A single, one-of-a-kind three-dimensional figurative sculpture mounted on your dining room wall is a guaranteed conversation piece, while a trio of abstract works arranged on your living room bookshelves can add spontaneity to the collection of first-edition novels or artist monographs you’re displaying as well as draw attention to them. Figurative sculptures are representational works that portray a specific person, animal or object. And while decorating with busts, which are sculpted or cast figurative works, hasn’t exactly topped the list of design trends every year, busts are back. According to designer Timothy Corrigan, “They give humanity in a way that a more abstract sculpture can’t give.” Abstract sculptures, on the other hand, are not meant to show something specific. Instead, they invoke a mood or scene without directly stating what they are portraying.

Busts made of stone or metal may not seem like a good fit for your existing decor. Fortunately, there are many ways for a seemingly incongruous piece to fit in with the rest of your room’s theme. You can embrace a dramatic piece by making it the focal point of the room, or you can choose to incorporate several elements made out of the same material to create harmony in your space. If an antique or more dramatic piece doesn’t feel like you, why not opt for works comprising plastic, fiberglass or other more modern materials?

When incorporating sculpture into the design of your home — be it the playful work of auction hero and multimedia visionary KAWS, contemporary fiber art from Connecticut dealer browngrotta arts or still-life sculpture on a budget — consider proper lighting, which can bring out the distinctive aspects of your piece that deserve attention. And make sure you know how the size and form of the sculpture will affect your space in whole. If you choose a sculpture with dramatic design elements, such as sharp angles or bright colors, for example, try to better integrate this new addition by echoing those elements in the rest of your room’s design.

Get started on decorating with sculpture now — find figurative sculptures, animal sculptures and more on 1stDibs today.