Sculptor Daniel Druet Dies After Losing Copyright Battle Against Cattelan

Daniel Druet, the sculptor who famously sued Maurizio Cattelan for copyright infringement, died on June 26 at age 84. His funeral was held July 9 in Perriers-sur-Andelle, Normandy. From 2022 to 2024, Druet pursued legal action against Galerie Perrotin, Monnaie de Paris, and others for exhibiting eight sculptures he made for Cattelan without crediting him. The Paris court and later the Court of Appeal ruled against Druet in May 2024, stating the sculptures were inseparable from Cattelan's staging. Druet was the official sculptor of Musée Grévin from 1973 to 1983, creating around 200 effigies. A graduate of ENSBA, resident of Villa Médicis and Casa de Velazquez, he won the Prix de Rome twice (1967, 1968). Château de Vascoeuil, where he exhibited busts in 2014, paid tribute on July 9.