Robert Duranton was born in Paris in 1926 and had early success as a bodybuilder, when he won the title Mr. France in 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951. He became a popular wrestler in Canada before moving to Hollywood, where he never quite made it into films. Eventually, he returned to France, where he appeared in a few popular French movies.
Gregor Arax of Arax Studio took all of these photographs. He was a Greek national, who photographed male nudes in Paris from the 1930's to 1960's. He photographed many of the elite bodybuilders of his time, including Steve Reeves.
My favorite of these images is the one of Robert seated on the podium and holding the sword at his side. His stylized pose and haughty gaze over our heads give him the air of an Olympian among mortals.
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