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Jean-Baptiste Clésinger
19th Century French Sculpture Bronze Patinated and Gilded Barbedienne Fondeur

1864

About the Item

"Helen of Troy," large bronze sculpture with brown patina signed at base J.Clesinger-Rome 1864-F. Barbedienne foundryman and bearing Collas mechanical reduction seal. Auguste Clésinger was the son of Georges-Philippe Clésinger, himself a sculptor, and a professor at the Higher Institute of Fine Arts in Besançon in Franche-Comté. Initiated into sculpture by his father, it can be said of him that he was "self-made," as he was endowed with both innate talent and a tempestuous and independent character. Clésinger made his debut at the 1843 Paris Painting and Sculpture Salon with a Buste du vicomte Jules de Valdahon but became famous with the scandal caused at the 1847 Salon when he presented his "Woman Stung by a Snake," now in the Musée d'Orsay. Made from a molding done on Apollonie Sabatier, the muse of Charles Baudelaire, then the mistress of the very wealthy Belgian industrialist Alfred Mosselman and a great lover of art, who had placed theꞌ order, this extremely sensual sculpture sparked an uproar at the Salon, causing Clesinger's name to resonate everywhere. A controversial, passionate, furious man and sculptor, Clesinger does not accept criticism or advice: he has no students; he is an all-around artist. Strong, energetic, independent, he threw himself on the marble block and drew from it his masterpieces, which were too bold and modern for his time. Angered by France, he left Paris for Rome, where he opened an atelier, which he carried on until 1864. His production is never predictable nor banal: he tries his hand at busts and historical ensembles as well as beautiful statues of classical heroines, often played by his favorite muse, actress Rachel Felix. He is not a sculptor of large numbers; working alone, his works are often unique and, when replicated by himself, still remain limited in number. Bronze production, edited exclusively by Ferdinand Barbedienne, is also limited. Such is the case with the beautiful Helen of Troy, who takes shape in the Roman atelier, imagined as a Roman matron, tall, sturdy, superb, crafted in a brown patina bronze illuminated by golden highlights.  Measurements H cm 70 D base cm 20
  • Creator:
  • Creation Year:
    1864
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 27.56 in (70 cm)Width: 7.88 in (20 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Export certificate present.
  • Gallery Location:
    Pistoia, IT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2746215145362

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