Vital-Gabriel DUBRAY was born in Paris, 6 cours Saint-Martin, in February 27th 1813, son of Jean-Pierre Dubray, a woodcarver, and of Marie-Joséphine Fourcade,his wife. His father teach him some of the rudiments in art, then he studied engraving which he gave up for sculpture. He becomes the student of Jules Ramey and is accepted at l'Ecole des Beaux-Arts in March 31th 1829. After a while in 1834 he works for an ornamentalist nammed Cecconi. He modeled figures intented for the decoration of houses, gardens, and churches. But this kind of occupation was far from satisfying his artistic taste, He then chose to participate to the Salon for the first time in 1840. He received a medal of third class in 1844 and an honorable mention in the Universal exhibition in 1855. He was awarded of the legion of honor in August 16th 1857 and officer of the same order in August 14th 1865. He died at the age of 74 at the begining of October 1892.