Los Angeles County
Biographies
LEON FORTUNE FIGHIERA
FIGHIERA, LEON FORTUNE,
Sculptor, Los Angeles, California, is a native of France, born at Nice,
April 1, 1872. He is the son of Louis Fighiera
and Rachel (De Berio) Fighiera,
both members of illustrious families of France. He married Miss Louise Nicolas,
daughter of Pierre Nicolas, one of California’s pioneer citizens, at Fullerton,
California, January 25, 1909.
Monsieur Fighiera was born in
an atmosphere of artistic refinement. He began the study of his art in early
childhood and has devoted his life to it. His elementary education he obtained
in the schools of Nice, then attended a preparatory
school at Lyons, France, and from there went direct to the Academie
Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris. He was graduated
from there in 1899 and continued his studies in the Royal Academy at Rome, from
which he graduated in 1902. After completing his studies in Rome he went direct
to Carrara, Italy, there to perfect himself in the
sculpture of marble. He was a pupil at Carrara of the
famous Nicoli and was sent forth by the master a
finished sculptor. Nicoli was not the only great
teacher under whom M. Fighiera studied, for at
Rome his instructors were Signor Fontana and Gangerie,
while at Paris and Nice he was a pupil of Falguiere
and Borsani. These men, regarded as modern masters,
form the elite of the Italian and French sculptors.
In 1904, upon his return from Carrara,
M. Fighiera was nominated by the Government to
serve in the Fourteenth Corps d’Armes, to fulfill the
obligation devolving upon every male citizen of France. His Government,
however, recognized him as an artist and instead of exacting active military
service under arms, commanded him to give of his talent to the country. This he
did in the shape of a military monument, dedicated to the Twenty-first,
Ninety-ninth and One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiments of Infantry. This
magnificent piece of sculpture, carved out of the beautiful rose marble of the
Alps, was placed in the Necropolis of Gap, France, and there stands today an
everlasting tribute to the artist and his country.
M. Fighiera opened a studio in
the year 1905 in his native city – Nice – and there created numerous subjects
which placed him among the leaders in the world of art and assured him of a
brilliant future. Among his principal works at that time were
the Monument de la Douleur for the Isperti family, in the Cemetery of Nice.
“Penelope,” in marble, for M. Rossi, of
Nice.
“Spasme of
Christ,” for the Fraternity of Penitents at Nice.
“Sauveteur,”
in bronze, for the Vicomtesse Vigier
d’Oria.
“Eroe and Leandre,” for M. Giroux, of Lyons, France.
“Le Corsaire,”
for M. Meyer, of Paris.
These represent only a few of the more notable pieces
created by M. Fighiera, but they were
characteristic of his art and gave him a firm place in the esteem of critics
and fellow-artists.
M. Fighiera would have
continued his career in his native France had not fate, in the summer of 1905,
decreed that he should meet, while traveling through the country, Miss Louise
Nicolas, a beautiful American girl, daughter of a noted California financier.
Despite the entreaties of his parents, M. Fighiera came to America and located in Los Angeles,
December 14, 1908. Less than two months later, having been welcomed by his fiancee’s family, they were married.
Soon after marriage M. Fighiera
went to Salt Lake City, Utah, to do some commercial sculpture, but stayed there
only about a year, returning to Los Angeles. He opened the International
Statuary Company, which he has since sold. He then opened a private studio and
as in the past will exhibit his works in the International Salons and Academies
of Art.
M. Fighiera is a member, L. A.
Chamber of Commerce and Los Angeles Athletic Club.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
11 October 2010.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 530,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2010 Marie Hassard .
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES