# Étienne Maurice Falconet

> French sculptor (1716–1791)

**Wikidata**: [Q289246](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q289246)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Étienne_Maurice_Falconet)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/etienne-maurice-falconet

## Summary
Étienne Maurice Falconet (1716–1791) was a French sculptor known for creating the Bronze Horseman monument for Saint Petersburg and contributing to the Encyclopédie as an encyclopédiste.

## Biography
- Born: 1716-12-01 (December 1, 1716)
- Nationality: France
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Sculptor of the Bronze Horseman monument and contributor to the Encyclopédie
- Employer(s): Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture, Beaux-Arts de Paris
- Field(s): Sculpture, art

## Contributions
Étienne Maurice Falconet created the Bronze Horseman monument for Peter I at the Senate Square in Saint Petersburg, completed in 1768. He was a contributor to the Encyclopédie from 1751 to 1765 and worked as a translator. His work period spanned from 1731 to 1791.

## FAQs
- **What is Étienne Maurice Falconet most famous for?**
  He is most famous for creating the Bronze Horseman monument for Saint Petersburg and contributing to the Encyclopédie as an encyclopédiste.

- **Where did Étienne Maurice Falconet work?**
  He worked for the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture and was affiliated with the Beaux-Arts de Paris.

- **What was Étienne Maurice Falconet's occupation?**
  He was a sculptor, artist, and contributor to the Encyclopédie.

- **When did Étienne Maurice Falconet create the Bronze Horseman?**
  He created the Bronze Horseman monument in 1768.

## Why They Matter
Étienne Maurice Falconet's work as a sculptor significantly influenced 18th-century art, particularly through his monumental sculpture of the Bronze Horseman, which became a symbol of Russian imperial power. His contributions to the Encyclopédie helped disseminate Enlightenment ideas across Europe, and his artistic style influenced subsequent generations of sculptors. Without his work, the visual representation of Peter the Great would be different, and the artistic landscape of the 18th century would lack one of its most iconic monuments.

## Notable For
- Created the Bronze Horseman monument for Saint Petersburg in 1768
- Contributed to the Encyclopédie from 1751 to 1765 as an encyclopédiste
- Worked as a translator
- Affiliated with the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture
- Associated with the Beaux-Arts de Paris

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Étienne Maurice Falconet was born on December 1, 1716, in France. The source material does not provide specific details about his early education or training as a sculptor, though he was affiliated with the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture and later with the Beaux-Arts de Paris.

### Career and Affiliations
Falconet's career spanned from 1731 to 1791, as indicated by the work period data. He was a member of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture, which was established in 1648 and sought to professionalize artists working for the French court. He later became affiliated with the Beaux-Arts de Paris, a national school of fine arts founded in 1797.

### Major Works
Falconet is most renowned for his sculpture of the Bronze Horseman, a monument created for Peter I at the Senate Square in Saint Petersburg. The monument was completed in 1768 and stands as one of his most significant contributions to art history. This work was commissioned by Catherine the Great and represents Peter the Great on horseback, symbolizing his role in establishing the Russian Empire.

### Contributions to the Encyclopédie
Falconet was one of the contributors to the Encyclopédie, an influential work published between 1751 and 1765 that represented the Enlightenment movement. As an encyclopédiste, he contributed to the development of this comprehensive reference work, which played a crucial role in spreading scientific and philosophical ideas across Europe.

### Later Life and Legacy
Falconet continued his artistic work until his death on January 24, 1791. His contributions to sculpture and his role in the Encyclopédie established him as an important figure in 18th-century French and European art. The source material indicates he was a sculptor, artist, and translator, with his work period documented from 1731 to 1791.

## References

1. Union List of Artist Names. 2017
2. BnF authorities
3. Source
4. Integrated Authority File
5. RKDartists
6. [Source](https://collection.nationalmuseum.se:443/eMP/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=artist&objectId=27229&viewType=detailView)
7. Le « beau réel » selon Etienne-Maurice Falconet Les idées esthétiques d'un sculpteur-philosophe. Dix-Huitième Siècle
8. International Standard Name Identifier
9. archINFORM
10. Virtual International Authority File
11. CiNii Research
12. Étienne-Maurice Falconet. RKDartists
13. Étienne Maurice Falconet. Falconet, Étienne Maurice
14. SNAC
15. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
16. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
17. Falconet, Etienne-Maurice
18. Proleksis Encyclopedia
19. Croatian Encyclopedia
20. [BnF authorities](https://data.bnf.fr/en/12081743/etienne-maurice_falconet/)
21. Falconet, Étienne Maurice
22. [Great Russian Encyclopedia](https://bigenc.ru/fine_art/text/4705654)
23. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
24. CERL Thesaurus
25. La France savante
26. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
27. Enciclopedia Treccani
28. [Source](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiarch.php)
29. LIBRIS. 2012
30. [Source](https://collections.frick.org/people/230/etiennemaurice-falconet/objects)
31. catalogo.beniculturali.it
32. CollectieGelderland