Agathon Léonard was born in Lille, France to Belgian parents. A naturalized French citizen, he adopted the French pseudonym, Léonard, rather than use his family name, Van Weydeveldt. His artistic training began in Lille. By 1897, he had earned his place as an exhibiting member of the Salon at the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. Léonard distinguished himself by earning a silver medal at the Paris 1889 Exposition Universelle and gold at the Paris 1900 Exposition Universelle for his Jeu de l’Echarpe which was in homage to the dances performed by American Modernist, Loïe Fuller, who had captured hearts with her mesmerizing performances featuring specially choreographed lighting and diaphanous fabric. Over the course of nine months until the close of the 1900 Exposition, fair-goers couldn’t get enough of Léonard’s sculpted work; Jeu de l’Echarpe was sold-out and re-issued several times. In recognition of his achievement, The French government awarded him the Legion of Honor, order of Chevalier, that same year.