François Pompon was a French sculptor and animalier. Pompon made his Salon debut in 1879. He was a pioneer of modern stylized animal sculptures. He was not fully recognized for his artistic accomplishments until the age of 67 at the Salon d'Automne of 1922 with the work "Ours blanc", also known as "the White Bear". Pompon died in Paris, France, on 6 May 1933.