Georges MALISSARD
(Anzin, 1877 - Neuilly-sur-Seine, 1942)
Malissard was born in Anzin in a family of industrialists who manufactured equipment for mines and railways. Passionate about riding, horses and sculpture, Malissard met Emmanuel Frémiet, who encouraged him to pursue an artistic path.
Thereafter Malissard began a brilliant career as an animal sculptor. Specialized in the equestrian subject, before the First World War he made several statuettes of horses of Emperor William II. From 1908, he regularly exhibited portraits of horses at the Salon des Artistes Français, but also an Asian elephant and wild boars.
After the war, he received numerous orders procurements, especially the statues of marshals Foch, Lyautey and Petain.
During the first half of the 20th century, he was the most requested sculptor by the owners to make portraits of racers; thus, the horse, alone or ridden, became the favourite theme of his creation.
