Édouard Paul Mérite was a celebrated French sculptor, animal painter, draughtsman and teacher.

Born in rural Neubourg, Mérite developed an early zeal for sketching detailed studies of numerous creatures. He was raised in rural surroundings, having ample opportunity to explore the landscape.

His initial tuition was undertaken at the hands of two experienced sculptors, Louis-Ernest Barrias (1841-1905) and Emmanuel Frémiet (1824-1910) - before he added painting to his repertoire under the careful guidance of Aimé Nicolas Morot (1850-1913).

Unlike many of his peers, Mérite appears to have been unconcerned with excessively pandering to the needs of the salons, preferring to work primarily for aristocratic patrons. During the 1880s, he began producing hunting scenes, along with numerous drawings of both domestic and wild animals. Many of these described exotic species, witnessed during overseas trips such as his 1898 sojourn to the Sudan.

In 1905, he embarked on a hazardous polar expedition with the Duke of Orléans where he studied polar bears and arctic fauna. The pair returned four years later, undeterred by the merciless conditions. Around this time, he also fell into favour with the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I and accompanied him on ostentatious hunting parties - producing works for the Austrian court. He was knighted for his contributions. 

His commissions for the aristocracy extended to Britain when he created numerous depictions of falcons for the British landed gentry, which were subsequently hung in grand hunting lodges.

With the onset of World War I, Mérite withdrew into a comparatively secluded life on the La Jonchère estate in Rueil-Malmaison, where he raised an assortment of wild animals and maintained his extraordinary collection of exhibits. He took a role as a drawing teacher at the Muséum National D'histoire Naturelle in Paris, when in his mid-50s.

For a country boy with a sketchbook, pencil and passion for wildlife, he did rather well. He's represented in numerous public collections.

Timeline

1867

Born in Neubourg, France.

Studied under the sculptors Louis-Ernest Barrias (1841-1905) and Emmanuel Frémiet (1824-1910).

Studied painting under Aimé Nicolas Morot (1850-1913).

1898-1899

Undertook a study trip to the Sudan.

1905

Undertook a polar expedition with the Duke of Orléans where he studied polar bears and arctic fauna.

1909

Undertook a further polar expedition with the Duke of Orléans.

1910

Appointed a Knight of the Order of Franz Joseph.

1923-1937

Employed as a drawing teacher at the Muséum National D'histoire Naturelle in Paris.

1941

Died in Rueil-Malmaison, France.