José-Maria David

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José Maria David was born in France on August 21, 1944 near the forest of Gâvre. A specialist in the sculpturing of animals, his style is characterized by the speed of execution: he is capable of creating a big size sculpture in four hours.

At first an antique dealer, then a sculptor in 1986, he has created over twenty years, 300 sculptures.

On April 29, 2003, at Sotheby's in London, he beat the sales record. His hippopotamus sold for £28,000 (about €40,000).

At the centre of his talent, is an innate gift to modeland to sculpture, allied with a surprising visual memory. He creates with precision and speed, and distinguishes itself from classic sculptors of the XIXth in the static style, by the postures of his animals in a dynamic state of tension giving an irresistible impression of movement. "His speed of execution, his spontaneity and his nervous drawing remind in a certain way the art of the Grand Master Rembrandt Bugatti" wrote an editorial writer of La Gazette Drouot n°40 11 August 1988.