Jean-Joseph Perraud: The Sculptor of Imperial Grace Jean-Joseph Perraud (1819 – 1876) stands as a cornerstone of French academic sculpture during the Second Empire, an era defined by opulent grandeur and fervent artistic patronage. Born in Jura, France—a region renowned for its sculptural heritage—he descended from a family deeply rooted in artistic tradition; his father himself practiced the craft, nurturing within him an innate predisposition for shaping stone into evocative forms. This familial legacy swiftly translated into exceptional talent, securing him admission to the École des Beau…