Animalier sculptor Michel Bassompierre dies at 78

Michel Bassompierre, the French animalier sculptor known for his monumental bronze and marble bears, gorillas, and elephants, died on April 21, 2026, at age 78 after a fall at his home in Vertou, near Nantes. Born March 22, 1948, in Paris, he studied at the École des beaux arts de Rouen under René Leleu (1966–1971). He later settled in Vertou and worked with sculptor René Robin. Bassompierre won the Grand Prix of the Salon national des artistes animaliers (1989) and the Salon des artistes français (1990). His style, influenced by François Pompon, simplified forms and emphasized mass. He worked in bronze (lost wax and sand casting) and Carrara marble, collaborating with foundries like Venturi Arte in Italy. Major exhibitions include 'Fragiles colosses' at the Jardin des plantes in Paris (2019) and a show at the Musée Despiau Wlérick in Mont de Marsan (2021). In Vertou, 'Élégance animale' (Nov 16, 2024 – Feb 2, 2025) placed sculptures across the city. Two monumental polar bears, La Fratrie n°2a and La Fratrie n°2b, remain on the cale de Beautour. In February 2026, Vertou announced plans for a Michel Bassompierre museum, opening in 2028. He was named Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2010) and Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur (January 2026). On April 1, 2026, former culture minister Roselyne Bachelot awarded him the insignia of Officier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres at the Musée Bourdelle in Paris.