French Bronze Sculpture “Spartacus Breaking His Chains” after Denis Foyatier

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French Bronze Sculpture “Spartacus Breaking His Chains” after Denis Foyatier

About the Item

DENIS FOYATIERFrench, 1793-1863"Spartacus brisant ses chaînes" (1827)Verde patinated bronze over marble base on bronze rim foundry mark to right side of post "feuchére" posthumously cast circa 1890Item # 310ZUP02S The most widely cherished sculpture Denis Foyatier completed, the powerful statue depicts the slave Spartacus with his arms folded in contemplation, intense resolve spelled clearly on his face as he has just shattered his chains and has armed himself for resistance. An exceedingly good cast, the present example is an imposing presentation measuring just under 35" in total height. The casting quality is above reproach with intricate hammering executed throughout his hair, flawless execution of the skin and finished with exquisite chiseling of details throughout his face, fingernails, toes and sword. The surface is particularly compelling, an overall verde patination over a medium brown base with hints of black. The right side of the column behind Spartacus is signed with the foundry mark of Jean-Jacques Feuchere and the entire piece is raised on its original marble base over a bronze rim. It was posthumously cast circa 1890.For a similar example at auction, see the smaller 23.6" model offered at Bonham's, Edinburgh, 19 March 2010, lot 585, achieved 4560 GBP (approx. $ 6,954 USD at time of sale).After first training under Chinard at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyons, Foyatier moved to Paris following the death of his teacher to continue his training at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris where he enrolled in 1817. Only two years later made his debut at Salon in 1819 with several busts and figures where his exhibition of Young Faun Composing Music(Jeune Faune composant de la musique, no. 1306) won him a gold medal and a commission to complete the statue of St. Mark for the Arras cathedral. This was a remarkable accomplishment for the very first showing at Salon and the young sculptor left for Italy in 1822. It was while he was studying in Rome that he first conceived the idea for what would become his most famous statue, Spartacus Breaking His Chains. He initially exhibited this model in plaster at the Paris Salon of 1827 (no. 1125). An immediately successful work, Foyatier was commissioned with a Royal Command by the Minister of the Maison du Roi the following year on November 18th of 1828 to produce a statue in marble for 10,000 francs for placement in the Tuileries Garden and he exhibited this finished example in 1830. That statue was then placed in the Louvre Museum. A plaster copy was acquired for the Museum of Bar-le-Duc. Foyatier exhibited the sculpture again, this time cast in bronze for the Exposition Universelle of 1855 (no. 4383). The clamor of interest around the model allowed Foyatier to secure contracts with Parisian art foundries to have the model produced in smaller dimensions for the collector market - those early casts are usually in the 15 1/2" height. The foundry of Jean-Jacques Feuchére cast a version of this sculpture for Foyatier, adding a garment around his waist to make the composition it more marketable. Artist Listings & Bibliography: * Dictionnaire des Sculpteurs de L'École Française, Vol. II, Stanislas Lami, 1916, p. 391-396 * E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, Vol. V, Gründ, 2006, p. 953-954 Measurements: 34 1/2" H (total) x 32 3/8" H (bronze) x 13" W x 13" D Condition Report:Retaining all original elements. Slight backward bend to the sword. Wear to the patina on his back (notably his right shoulder blade), the sword, his outer forearm, trace wear around edges of the base, scuff to his left thigh, other minor relieving of the green to the lower levels of patina; a brilliant presentation, carefully cleaned, sealed in wax and polished.

Dimensions:
Height: 34.5 in (87.63 cm)Width: 13 in (33.02 cm)Depth: 14 in (35.56 cm)
Style:
Romantic (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Marble
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1890
Condition:
See condition notes in description text.
Seller Location:
Shippensburg, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: 310ZUP02S1stDibs: LU1059037008832