Raoul Josset

Raoul Josset grew up in Breteuil-sur-Noye / Oise and was trained at the Paris School of Fine Arts. During World War I, he worked as an interpreter for American forces in France. He continued his studies after the war as a pupil of the jury member of 1924, Antoine Bourdelle from 1920-26. In Paris, he opened a studio in 1913, but incidentally also worked at schools. Josset was awarded the Rome Prize in 1923 and the Prix Paris for the years 1924, 1925 and 1926.

In 1932, Josset moved to the USA at the request of ceramic companies and collaborated there with sculptor José Martin. In 1934 he became an American citizen. In 1954, he became an Associate Member of the National Academy of Design – one of the highest artistic honors in the United States. Josset is best known for art deco sculptures of the bell tower and a Christ on the church in Roupy, France; a monument to the World War I dead in Châtillon-sur-Seine; and the statue The Spirit of the Centennial, now at the Administration Building of the Texas Centennial Exhibition in Dallas, Texas.

In 1924 Josset had participated in the art competition for his native France, then in 1936 for the United States, making him the only artist to participate in the Games for two different states. The plaster group Au vainqueur des Jeux Olympiques (To the winner of the Olympic Games) was shown in 1923 in the Salon des Artistes français, but is now lost. The statue Boxer was donated to the University of Michigan in 1937 and placed in the lobby of the Michigan Union fraternity. The list of his works also includes an Ice Hockey Player, often with the addition The Goalie, an 81 cm high plaster statue from 1934.