Henry Parayre

HENRY PARAYRE (France, 1879-1970)
"Female nude lying down", 1922.
Polychrome stucco.
Signed and dated on the back.
Presents marks of use, wear, faults and restoration on a finger and feet.
Measurements: 25 x 65 x 25 cm.

Henry Parayre in 1892 enrolled in evening classes at the École des Beaux-Arts in Toulouse, where he studied with Jean Rivière (1853-1924). In 1900 he completed his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts and moved to Paris to study with Paul Dubois at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He also taught drawing and modeling at the trade school in Béziers. His passion for teaching led him to return to Toulouse in 1907 to become foreman of the wood workshop at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. Drawing on his experience, he became deeply involved in promoting apprenticeship in the decorative arts in connection with industrial projects. His publications and lectures led to his appointment in 1917 as general rapporteur of the applied arts committee of the Toulouse region, charged with defining the means of competing with the artistic productions of enemy countries, Germany and Austria. In 1922 he was appointed professor of drawing at the Berthelot elementary school, and in 1923 professor of sculpture in the industrial art class at the École des beaux-arts. Later, in 1931, he was professor of drawing at the École normale d'instituteurs. From 1922, he develops an intense teaching and sculptural activity. He exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants and later at the Salon d'Automne. He quickly established himself as the leader of a sculpture school in Toulouse.