Guy Le Perse
Male nude – Bronze sculpture – The Athlete
Guy Le Perse
The Athlete - Male nude
Date : XXI
Dimensions : H : 40 cm ; L : 22,5 cm ; P : 15 cm
place of production: France
Material : Bronze with black patina
Condition : Very good condition – Signed LEPERSE, foundry stamp and numbered 2/8.
Conditions & disponibilité: Original work produced in 8 numbered editions plus 4 artist's proofs. A certificate of authenticity signed by the artist is provided to the buyer.
5 000 €
Description
of work
Nu masculin représentant un athlète
In this black-patinated bronze sculpture, Guy Le Perse captures the timeless strength and dignity of the male form. The Athlete stands upright, his legs firmly grounded, his hands clasped behind his back — a poised and composed stance that subtly reveals a disciplined, understated musculature. There is no ostentation here, only balance and control.
The slight forward tilt of the head introduces a contemplative dimension, a quiet introspection that imbues the figure with a sense of inner stillness and serene authority. Echoing the classical representations of ancient athletes or pankratiasts, Le Perse offers not a depiction of physical exertion, but of presence, restraint, and self-mastery — a tribute to the enduring harmony between body and spirit.
The black patina enhances the sculptural modelling of the body, interacting with the light to reveal volumes and underlying tensions, while bestowing the piece with a solemn nobility. Through its formal balance and the restraint of its expression, The Athlete embodies inner strength, the discipline of both body and mind — an ideal that Guy Le Perse consistently seeks to capture in his work.
"It is a shame for a man to grow old without having seen the beauty and strength of which his body is capable." -Socrates-
Guy Le Perse
Roubaix (France) 1953
The sculptor Guy Le Perse was trained at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Industries Textiles in Roubaix and the École des Beaux-Arts in Douai. He was mentored by the sculptor Armand Debève, for whom he modeled in some works, and by the painter and engraver Auguste-Jean Gaudin. From his masters, he acquired a profound personal discipline in mastering his craft and creating his works.
A complete and expert artist, proficient in both engraving and painting, Guy Le Perse worked for many years for various prestigious clients. While practicing sculpture as a personal and secret philosophy, he also taught at applied art schools and fine arts schools in northern France.
Shortly before the year 2000, Guy Le Perse decided to devote himself primarily to sculpture. He has produced powerful and profound figurative works that continue the grand tradition of French statuary, one of the richest and most beautiful in the world.
Through his work, Guy Le Perse perpetuates the excellence of French sculpture, brought to its pinnacle by illustrious artists like Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux and Auguste Rodin, restoring it to its rightful place.
Drawing from the foundations and mysteries of the human soul as elucidated by great myths and foundational texts, Guy Le Perse has created a timeless body of work of great beauty, combining strength and delicacy.
Fiercely independent throughout his professional life, he remains so with respect to his era. The sculptures of Guy Le Perse do not follow any fashion or trend; they are eternal. Uncompromising with his times, his works are capable of speaking about the human condition’s tragedy to both the people of yesterday and those who will gaze upon them a thousand years from now.
A perfectionist and exacting artist, Guy Le Perse personally oversees the entire process of creating his bronzes, except for the casting. Mastering with equal rigor the modeling from life, the chiseling, and the patina process, Guy Le Perse attends to his works down to the finest details.
sources
Exposition – Guy Le Perse – Paris, Hôtel George V – 01/06/2003 – 01/06/2003
Exposition – Guy Le Perse – Lambersart, Le Colysée – 11/11/2005 – 08/01/2006
Exposition – Art-Up ! – Lille, Grand Palais – 28/02/2019 – 03/03/2019