18 Facts About Jacques Saly

Jacques Francois Joseph Saly, known as Jacques Saly, French-born sculptor who worked in France, Italy and Malta.

Jacques Saly is commonly associated with his time in Denmark he served as Director of the Royal Danish Academy of Art.

Jacques Saly was born in Valenciennes to Francois Marie Saly and his wife Marie-Michelle Jardez.

Jacques Saly became one of the first French members of the Accademia degli Arcadi in Rome 1744, and of the Academy of Design at Florence, in 1748, and of the accademia di belli arti, Bologna.

Jacques Saly went on to Paris, where he became a member of the Academie royale de peinture et de sculpture in 1751 with his work Le Faune au chevreau.

Jacques Saly created a plaster bust of Madame de Pompadour in 1752, and a statue of Amor for her the next year.

In 1752 Saly was commissioned to create a sculpture of King Frederick V of Denmark on horseback to be placed in the center of the courtyard of Amalienborg Palace.

Sculptor Edme Bouchardon rejected the offer, but suggested Jacques Saly, who wanted a significant sum for the model and free housing in Copenhagen.

Jacques Saly gave the main speech at the event, a snub to the current Academy Director architect Nicolai Eigtved.

Jacques Saly was made member of the Academy; was named professor, and received a residence at Charlottenborg.

Jacques Saly worked hard to improve the Danish Academy after the model of the French Academy.

Jacques Saly sought to bring about these changes, all the while working on his model of the equestrian statue for the king, the primary artistic work associated with his many years in Denmark.

Jacques Saly was instrumental in bringing his friend from the French Academy and the years in Italy, fellow-countryman and architect Nicolas-Henri Jardin, to the attention of King Frederik V as the suitable choice to replace Nicolai Eigtved for the design and building of Frederik's Church, now known as The Marble Church, work on which had begun in 1749.

Jacques Saly sculpted around this same time a life-size bust of the king, of which seven bronze casts were created, and a sculpture of Moltke, the head of the Asiatic Company, of which three bronze casts were created.

Jacques Saly quit in protest over a new set of rules that gave increased influence to native-born Danes.

Jacques Saly was named Knight of the Order of St Michel in Paris, but was not allowed to bear the title while living in Denmark.

Jacques Saly was not satisfied with the conclusion of his financial negotiations.

Jacques Saly's leading role at the Danish Academy of Art, during its early years helped establish the Academy as a force in art training not only in Scandinavia, but in Europe, and led the way to an emerging and strong Danish artist tradition.