Untitled, c.1920
Charlotte Monginot (1872–1962)
Charlotte Monginot was a French sculptor whose career spanned the final years of the nineteenth century through to the mid-twentieth century. Born in Paris in 1872 to the painter and engraver Charles Monginot, she pursued her career at a time when women artists faced considerable barriers to recognition in a male-dominated profession. She trained under three leading sculptors of her generation—Denys Puech, Laurent Marqueste, and Raoul Verlet—before making her Salon debut in 1895. She quickly gained recognition, earning the prestigious Officier d'Académie distinction in 1900, followed by a third-class medal in 1910. In 1903, she won the sculpture prize of the Union des Femmes Peintres et Sculpteurs. This Praying Angel, likely a maquette or preparatory study, reflects the spiritual solemnity characteristic of First World War memorial sculpture—a genre in which grieving communities sought expression through figures of devotion and intercession. Among her best-known monumental works are the statues of the Virgin and Christ at the Church of Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc in Saint-Eloy-les-Mines (Puy-de-Dôme).
Charlotte Monginot (1872–1962)
Charlotte Monginot was a French sculptor and painter renowned for her contributions to the Art Nouveau movement. Born in Paris, she was the daughter of Charles Monginot (1825–1900), a distinguished portrait painter and engraver. Under the mentorship of sculptor Denys Puech (1854–1942), Monginot honed her artistic skills. She began exhibiting at the Salon de Paris in 1895, earning an honourable mention for her work. Throughout her career, she created sculptures in plaster, bronze, and marble, often depicting dynamic female figures. Her bronze works are particularly esteemed for their quality and craftsmanship. In addition to sculpture, Monginot was also engaged in painting. She participated in numerous exhibitions in Paris and was associated with the French Society of Artists until her resignation in 1948.
