While still a student at l'Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1872, Coutan was the recipient of the prestigious Prix de Rome, which afforded him the opportunity to study in Italy for several years. Upon his return to Paris, he had his debut at the Paris Salon to much attention and acclaim.

One of the most sought-after artists for grand public commissions, Coutan sculpture was known for his elegant allegorical sculptures. His wonderful bas relief plaque of an allegorical depiction of victory as a winged figure on horseback reveals the sculptor at his most masterful; the taut yet subtle muscles of the horses legs, the delineated feathers of the wings, and the delicate modeling which creates an interplay of light and shadow c...