Louis Ardisson
Louis Ardisson, an academic sculptor known for his compositions adapting the great masters of the 18th century, was born in Nice in 1848. He studied painting with Alexander Bonnardel, professor at the Beaux Art of Lyon. He regularly exhibited his work at the Salon Officiel in Paris in the last quarter of the 19th century. He showed many allegorical or mythological scenes, inspired by artists such as Boucher, Fragonard or Charles Coypel.
In 1878, he participated in the World’s Fair in Paris, presenting a carved wood bas- relief of Venus visiting Vulcan. He was awarded a bronze medal for this piece.
Louis Ardisson collaborated with the Allard Company a number of times on their American projects. In addition to the fireplace for the Berwind New York residence, Ardisson worked on the extraordinary Marble House Ball Room project for the Vanderbilt’s in Newport. There was a strong connection between the styles of Jules Allard and Ardisson: a taste for the flamboyance of the different 18th century styles.
- photo 1 : The large chimney piece of the Marble House was flanked by gilded bas-relief, the work of Louis Ardisson.
- photo 2 : Detail of the picture above. Louis Ardisson represented here the Triumph of Neptune and Amphetrite. This composition was inspired by a ceiling painted by Charles Lebrun in the Louvre Palace.
