Biography

French sculptor. In 1840, he settles in Saint-Étienne where he is professor of drawing at the university of the city. He leaves the city for Lyon in 1845 where he becomes professor of the École des Beaux-Arts.

In 1852, he executes the Virgin surmounting the vault of the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon, realized in his workshop at the bank of the river Saone. Because his workshop was flooded, the inauguration of the statue was postponed until the 8th of December, since then on this day the Fete of Light is celebrated in Lyon.

In 1863 he goes to Lourdes to visit Bernadette Soubirous describe to him her visions of the Virgin Mary. Fabisch executes a statue of the Virgin intended for the crypt of the Basilique of the Immaculate Conception at Lourdes. The statue, the masterpiece of the artist, is consecrated on April 4th 1864 in the presence of twenty thousand people.

In 1874, he becomes director of the École des Beaux-Arts of Lyon of which he was professor since 1845.