E. de Labroue Gautier et Cie Furniture

ALBERT ERNEST CARRIER-BELLEUSE (FRENCH, 1824-1887) BRONZE SCULPTURE OF SCOTTISH SOLDIER "LE HIGHLANDER" Foundry mark of E. de Labroue and signed on base "A. Carrier" A truly exceptional work from a model by the Romantic sculptor Albert Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, this is one of the most detailed and striking military works we've carried. The figure is of such exquisite realism. The proud figure is complicated, cast with a broad array of accessories, the most noteworthy being his 17" long rifle. The rifle is of such excellent detail that it almost appears to have been cast directly from a period long rifle and translated into bronze. The surface is finished with utmost integrity, all of the filing and chasing work perfectly executed and left invisible beneath a brown, green and black patina. The overall result is very moving and magnetic - it is a sculpture that warrants hours of close examination and enjoyment, one that captures a sense of intensity and passion. Regarding the casting of this sculpture, Kjellberg notes that the foundry of E. de Labroue, established at 10 Rue des Filles-du-Calvaire, is specifically known for it's casting of this and a handful of other works by Carrier-Belleuse as well as major works by Pradier, Polet, Feuchére, Michel-Pascal, and Lequesne. The lower edge is signed by the foundry "E de Labroue Flt". Literature: Art Bronzes, Forrest, p. 472 (biography), also extensive photography of Carrier works Bronzes of the Nineteenth Century: Dictionary of Sculptors, Kjellberg, p. 189-92, p. 661 regarding E. de Labroue foundry and it's work for Carrier-Belleuse Romantics to Rodin: French Nineteenth Century Sculpture...