Texas where he created the Statues
of the Spirit of the Centennial,
16 feet high; the statues of
the United States, France
and Mexico, all 20 feet
in cast stone, made for
the Texas Centennial
which stand in pride
today in State Fair Park.
Some examples of
Raoul Josset’s Texas art
includes: the superb Refugio Memorial to Captain
King, standing 30 feet in bronze
and granite; the statue at Washington on the Brazos, bronze statue of
George Childress, eight feet; the
Goliad Memorial, 30 feet in granite; along with 20 bronze plaques
for Texas counties.
The Amon King Memorial in Refugio shows the influence of the Art
Deco movement. The angularity of his muscles, the square lines of the
sculpture’s form, and considering the symbolism drawn from Greek
Mythology, you will begin to understand this phenomenal work of art:
A young man, on one knee, weary from battle; in a struggle swinging a
broken sword, losing his fight but battling to the end; holding tightly to
a Laurel Leaf, the symbol of freedom!
The Amon King Monument symbolizes not just ONE man but the
group of young men who gave the ultimate sacrifice to give Texans the
freedom we enjoy today.
There is a Josset masterwork at Lavaca where the 30-foot statue of Cavalier de la Salle in granite has been hailed as one of his finest. Thousands
of Texans and out-of-state visitors have marveled at the stone bas-relief
75 feet by 7 feet high, representing the Construction of the Temple of
Solomon for the Waco Grand Lodge Masonic Temple.
In 1940-1943 he executed a bronze statue of Gen. Lafayette which stands
on the Esplanade of the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Arts. This work
was commissioned as the result of Josset's winning a national competition. In the competition for the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Josset often remarked with a rueful smile, "I ran second."
Prizes and distinguished honors come to the little Frenchman who became an American citizen in 1934 and a Texan not so long after that.
He was made an Associate Member of the National Academy of Design
in 1954, one of the highest honors to be bestowed on an artist in the
United States. He was awarded the Rome Prize in 1923; the Prix Paris
in 1924-25-26.
Speaking of art in his adopted state Josset once said: `There is so much
development to be done in Texas with fine arts. There is money and
enthusiasm here and the people know what they want. Instead of grotesque fads in art that are so unfortunately present in much of today's
work, Texans seek things with meaning and simple beauty for their
homes and their appreciation. They choose with an eye of permanence,
thinking in terms of years, generations, maybe forever.'
Texas has been privileged to receive the fruits of his artistry to hold for
all time in heritage."
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