Gaston Lachaise (1882-1935), a French-born American sculptor, is best known for his robust and sensual nudes, whose elegance of gesture and suavity of finish give them sophistication and élan.

Gaston Lachaise was born in Paris on March 19, 1882. His father, a maker of fine furniture, recognized Gaston's gifts and sent him to the École Bernard Palissy in 1895 to study arts and crafts. He then studied at the École des Beaux-Arts until 1905. Lachaise fell in love with an American art student who eventually became his wife. To earn money, he worked for a designer of Art Nouveau glass, René Lalique.

In 1906 Lachaise arrived in Boston and became an assistant to the academic sculptor Henry Kitson. On his own Lachaise did pieces which were freely modeled in the manner of Auguste Rodin. In 1912 Lachaise moved to New York City, where he worked as an assistant for 7 years...