Pierre Octave Vigoureux
Pierre Octave Vigoureux (4 April 1884 – 24 October 1965) was a French sculptor best known for his public monuments, war memorials, and religious sculpture. Active primarily during the interwar period, his work is represented in public spaces, museums, and churches across France.
Also recorded as Pierre Vigoureux
Pierre Octave Vigoureux
Vigoureux Family Archive · Public domain
- Name
- Pierre Octave Vigoureux
- Born
- 4 April 1884
- Birthplace
- Avallon, France
- Died
- 24 October 1965
- Place of death
- Nogent-sur-Marne, France
- Occupation
- Sculptor
- Education
- École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs
- Nationality
- France
- Teachers
- Hector Lemaire
- Known for
- Amazon · Our Lady of Light
- Languages
- French
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Documentary summary
Pierre Octave Vigoureux (4 April 1884 – 24 October 1965) was a French sculptor best known for his public monuments, war memorials, and religious sculpture. Active primarily during the interwar period, his work is represented in public spaces, museums, and churches across France.
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wikidata · Q18177079 · wikipedia · Pierre Vigoureux
In this article
Biography
Biography
Pierre Octave Vigoureux studied at École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs. Training under Hector Lemaire is recorded. The recorded working language is French. Works named in the authority record are Amazon and Our Lady of Light. Work by Pierre Octave Vigoureux is recorded in the collections of Musée des Beaux-Arts de la ville de Paris.
Jean Vigoureux (center) with sister Madeleine (left) brother Fernand (right) circa 1925. Thy were the three children of French sculptor Pierre Vigoureux and concert pianist Jeanne Fonssagrives. After the divorce of their parents on July 5, 1922, Madeleine and Fernand took the maiden name of their mother.
Anonymous Unknown author · Vigoureux Family archive
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Pierre Octave Vigoureux • Born — 4 April 1884 • Birthplace — Avallon, France • Died — 24 October 1965 • Place of death — Nogent-sur-Marne, France • Occupation — Sculptor • Education — École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs • Children — 2, including Fernand Fonssagrives
Early life and education
Early life and education
Vigoureux was born in Avallon, in the Yonne department. He began learning sculpture in his father's workshop and produced his first wooden sculptures around 1900. Encouraged by regional artists, he entered the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in Paris in 1902, where he studied under Hector Lemaire.
Career
Career
Vigoureux first exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1906. After the First World War, he settled near Vézelay and later returned to Avallon, where he maintained a studio. From the early 1920s onward, Vigoureux received numerous public commissions, particularly for war memorials. Alongside commemorative sculpture, he produced religious works, including multiple statues of Joan of Arc for churches in Burgundy. From 1935 to 1942, Vigoureux served as director of the École nationale des beaux-arts in Dijon. He was also appointed regional commissioner for the 1937 Paris International Exhibition. In 1950, he completed *La Muse du vin*, a state commission now held by the Musée d’Avallon.
Personal life
Personal life
Vigoureux married Jeanne Lise Marie Emma Fonssagrives in 1907. They later divorced, and he remarried in 1924. Through his first marriage, Vigoureux's son was Fernand Fonssagrives.
Selected public works
Selected public works
• Illustration — Monument to François Rude in Dijon • *Amazone* (1927), bronze, Jardin des Plantes, Paris • War memorial, Avallon (1921) • War memorial, Vézelay (1923) • *Monument à François Rude* (1953), Dijon • *Notre-Dame-de-Lumière*, Domecy-sur-Cure
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
The authorities additionally record the heading Pierre Vigoureux.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1884
Pierre Octave Vigoureux was born in 1884 at Avallon.
1965
Pierre Octave Vigoureux died in 1965 at Nogent-sur-Marne.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Avallon.
Birth place
Nogent-sur-Marne.
Death place
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
Pierre Octave Vigoureux studied at École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs. He trained under Hector Lemaire.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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