François Girardon: Sculptor of Royal Grandeur François Girardon (1628 – 1715) stands as a pivotal figure in French Baroque and Neoclassical sculpture, embodying the artistic spirit of his era and leaving an indelible mark on Versailles’s architectural splendor. Born at Troyes, France, he began his artistic journey under the tutelage of Baudesson, a joiner and woodcarver who instilled in him foundational skills—a craftsmanship that wou…