Gaston d'Illiers

Gaston d’Illiers was a sculptor, who specialized in animal motives, and was recognized and honored internationally for his very realistic horse sculptures. The offspring of a noble family exhibited since 1899 in the Salon of the Société des artistes français in Paris. His works were appreciated by horse lovers for their accuracy and fidelity to nature. He was also an excellent horse rider.

During World War I, he was recruited and participated in the Champagne Offensive of 25 September 1915. He ended the war in Orleans as head of horses and their filing dressages. During the war, his sculptures showed the use of horses in war, later portraits of racehorses. D’Illiers died in 1932 from a fever contracted during a journey aboard a horse from Orleans to Olivet.