Joseph Chinard - L'Autorité du Peuple ou Jupiter foudroyant l'Aristocratie

Joseph Chinard was born in 1756 in Lyon, France. He began his artistic training at the age of 13 with the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne and later studied at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris. Chinard's early works were influenced by the neoclassical style popular in France at the time. He gained recognition for his portrait busts, which were highly detailed and lifelike. Among his most famous busts are those of Napoleon Bonaparte, Benjamin Franklin and Madame Récamier. In addition to his portrait work, Chinard also created large-scale sculptures for public spaces. One of his most notable works is the statue of Louis XIV on horseback in the Place Bellecour in Lyon. Chinard was a prolific artist and produced a large number of works during his lifetime. He died in Lyon in 1813 at the age of 57. Today, Chinard's works can be found in museums and private collections around the world. His influence on French sculpture is still felt today, and he is considered one of the most important sculptors of the neoclassical period.