Christ the Redeemer sculptor Paul Landowski draws an angel, one of his main inspirations for the icon of Rio de Janeiro.

• Drawing by Paul Landowski.
• On the 2nd page of the book “Peut-on enseigner les Beaux-Arts?” by Landowski himself (author and owner).
• 14 cm x 19.3 cm x 2 cm.
• Paris, +/- 1944.
• Excellent condition of conservation.
• Unique piece.

Paul Landowski (1875-1961) was a French sculptor known for his large monumental works. He was born in Paris, where he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts, and worked in a studio with the renowned sculptor, Auguste Rodin.

Throughout his career, Landowski produced a series of monumental sculptures that adorn public squares, buildings and museums around the world. One of his most famous works is the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, created in collaboration with engineer Heitor da Silva Costa.

The statue was commissioned in 1921 by a group of Brazilian religious leaders who wanted to build a grand religious monument atop Corcovado Mountain, one of the city's most iconic landmarks. Paul Landowski's inspiration for creating the Christ the Redeemer statue was a combination of religious and cultural factors.

Landowski was a devout Catholic, and his faith had a significant impact on his work. He believed that art was a way to express divine beauty and inspire people to seek transcendence. His work reflects religious themes, such as the figure of Christ, saints, and angels.

He was particularly fascinated by angels. To him, angels were symbols of hope, peace, and divine protection. He saw them as powerful and benevolent figures, capable of guiding and inspiring us in our daily lives.

The book itself is a rarity. There are only 200 copies, and this is number 3, Landowski's own copy with some of his own notes. " Is it possible to teach the fine arts?" This is one of the questions the artist poses in the two hundred and fifty page book, the result of many years of reflection. How can we teach them? The question is not new. It has been debated since the 18th century. Theories clash, contradicting each other. One cannot expect unanimity on this question, to which Landowski does not offer a completely new solution. He tries to improve on the solutions already acquired and defend the institutions that he believes to be good.

The drawing, which is on the second page, touches the soul. I have never seen anything like it and it immediately made me think of Rio de Janeiro, the Marvelous City. It was like getting a sketch of a woman by Picasso or a sketch of a bird by Santos Dumont. Pure inspiration, pure emotion.