The son of François Joseph Duret and pupil of François Joseph Bosio, Duret exhibited at the Salon from 1831 to 1863 and was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1833. He worked on genre sculptures of Neapolitan life, such as the present popular models of Neapolitans dancing the Tarantella.

Pierre Maximilian Delafontaine studied under David and exhibited at the Salon from 1798. He not only specailized in decorative sculpture, but also worked as a founder.