French sculptor Stéphane Deguilhen has created a stunning bronze tribute to the mouflons of Bavella, the emblematic wild sheep that roam the mountainous regions of Corsica. Working from his studio in Levie, Alta Rocca, near the Bavella massif, Deguilhen has completed eight numbered bronze sculptures and Chinese ink drawings celebrating these majestic animals that have inspired his art since childhood.
The artist, who spent his early years exploring the trails of what he calls "the kingdom of the mouflons," made a dramatic career change in the 2000s when he left his profession as a physics teacher to pursue sculpture full-time. His artistic focus centers on capturing the concepts of strength and movement in his animal representations, a passion that has earned him recognition first in Corsica, then nationally through invitations from prestigious organizations including the Society of Fine Arts and the Society of French Artists.
Deguilhen's international breakthrough came in 2015 when his "Black Panther" sculpture was selected and exhibited by the British Museum Society. After years of creating bronze sculptures of wild animals from various international settings, the artist has now returned to his roots in Corsica, focusing his research and creative energy specifically on the mouflon.
To bring these sculptures to life, Deguilhen employed the lost-wax casting process, a technique expertly executed by the Massimo Chiaro foundry in Pietrasanta, Tuscany. This precision molding process allows for the creation of works in metal—including silver, gold, bronze, copper, or aluminum—or glass paste, starting from a wax model that is subsequently destroyed by heating during the process. "This foundry possesses exceptional know-how that respects the morphological and aesthetic details of the sculpture they work on," Deguilhen acknowledges.
To perfect his morphological study of the mouflon and capture its aesthetic essence, Deguilhen collaborated with Pierre Benedetti, a specialist in these animals. Benedetti, a retired chief environmental technician and former head of Corsica's natural space management unit, has worked on the subject for several decades. His expertise revealed a crucial distinction that enhanced Deguilhen's artistic accuracy.
"We don't speak of 'the' Corsican mouflon, but rather 'the' mouflons," Benedetti explains. "There are two distribution areas for mouflons: that of the Cintu massif and that of the Bavella massif. Genetic studies have confirmed the identification of two distinct genomes between these two populations. These are therefore two different subspecies living in Corsica, one in the north and the other in the south of the island."
This distinction is visible even through simple observation of the animals' horns. "This year, while sculpting the mouflons," Deguilhen explains, "I accomplished more elaborate work thanks to the specificities transmitted by Pierre Benedetti. Those from Bavella have saber-shaped horns that tend upward toward the neck, while those from Asco are more vertical."
Deguilhen expresses his wonder when observing the mouflons in their Bavella environment, noting how the representation of this emblematic animal awakens his creativity. "Thanks to the Italian foundry and the advice of specialist Pierre Benedetti, I was able to advance and progress in the conception of my works," he reflects.
The completed bronze works are currently featured in an exhibition in Bastia that will run through January, allowing visitors to appreciate this artistic homage to one of Corsica's most iconic wild animals. The project represents not only Deguilhen's return to his Corsican roots but also a celebration of the island's unique wildlife heritage through the medium of bronze sculpture.
