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bronze statue of a priest holding a staff and a crossstatue of a man with a bird perched on his backan image of a green vase with a bird on top of ita statue of a man holding a sword on top of a bookstatue of a woman sitting on a pedestal with a bird in her handbronze statue of a priest holding a cross and a staffbronze statue of a priest holding a staff and a staffa statue of a man in a robe holding a staff
Karl Benz

138 - François Victor BAZIN (Paris, 1897–1956)
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Estimate €400 - €600
Sale commission
Description
François Victor BAZIN (Paris, 1897–1956) Monseigneur Duparc, Bishop of Quimper and Léon. A figure in plaster with a blue and green patina, depicting Adolphe Duparc in his bishop’s robes. The base is decorated with a frieze featuring ‘ram’s horn’ Celtic motifs, ermine, the Sacred Heart and his episcopal coat of arms within cartouches. Incised signature ‘F Bazin’ on the plinth. Circa 1930. Height: 59 cm. Width: 15 cm. (Repaired at the crozier). Born in 1857 in Lorient into a modest family, Adolphe Duparc entered the Minor Seminary of Sainte-Anne d’Auray in 1866. He was ordained a priest in 1880. After several years of teaching and working as a private tutor, he was appointed parish priest of Lorient in 1895. His boundless energy and eloquence made him a much-loved and renowned parish priest, and his parish continued to grow. In 1908, Monsignor Guouraud, Bishop of Vannes, consecrated him as a bishop. He adopted the motto “Meulet ra vezo Jésu Krist” (Praise be to Jesus Christ) and was appointed to the Diocese of Quimper and Léon, thus becoming the youngest bishop in France. Energetic and determined, Bishop Duparc made education a priority in his diocese by founding 110 independent schools and a new Major Seminary. Deeply committed to social issues, he devoted himself to combating alcoholism and to fostering a sense of attachment to one’s homeland by establishing Breton societies and movements in other cities for expatriates, such as the Breton Parish in Paris. Intellectual and spiritual formation also involved the creation and development of numerous parish newsletters and specialist journals. The Breton cause was central to his work: defending the language in schools, championing Breton art, catechism and hymns in Breton, and staunch support for the beatification of Fathers Le Nobletz and Maunoir … He was described as “the most complete embodiment of Brittany—of a Brittany that is alive, active and, above all, unwaveringly devout” (in *Le Nouvelliste du Morbihan*, 1916). His pacifist vision of the struggle for Brittany stood in contrast to the latent separatism of a minority of regionalists. Whilst in complete agreement with Abbé Perrot on the substance of the matter, Monsignor Duparc was quite opposed to him on the form. During the Second World War, he called for support for the government of the National Revolution out of loyalty to France and did not hesitate to condemn the occupying forces. From being the youngest bishop in France, he became the longest-serving bishop, holding office until his death in 1946. Buried in Quimper, his recumbent statue in Saint Corentin’s Cathedral was created by the sculptor François Victor Bazin.
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About the sale BREIZH! Brittany & the Sea – Day 1
Auction location
Auction time 10/20/2026 at 2:00 PM
Lot description modified on 10/07/2026 at 3:36 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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