Arno Breker

Pair of Prancing Horses, two bronzes signed and numbered by Arno Breker

1978

Walter Spies was one of the first Europeans to settle in Bali after a stay in Java. He greatly contributed to the discovery and popularization of Balinese...

René-Paris Castaing, winner of the Grand Prix de Rome in 1924, left a large body of work, both sacred and secular. Many churches in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, in South-West France still bear witness to the diversity of his talent. In 1942, he began a major decoration project for the Château de Diusse, in the north-east of the county, including an allegory of the four seasons. The vigorous pastel we are presenting here is a study for Spring, depicted as Flore undressing. This commission was a veritable swan song for the artist, who died a year later at the age of 47. 1. René-Marie Castaing, the great inter-war painter in Pau René-Marie Castaing was born in Pau on December 16th 1896. His father, Joseph Castaing, was also a painter: he was the official portraitist of Pau's high society, which was particularly cosmopolitan at the end of the century, when many rich foreigners spent the winter in Pau, taking advantage of the mild weather to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle punctuated by hunting, horse ridings and golf. René-Marie Castaing was admitted to the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris in April 1920 and entered the studio of Paul-Albert Laurens (1870-1934). In 1924, he was awarded the First Grand Prix de Rome for Painting, which earned him a stay at the Villa Médicis for more than three years. He then returned to Pau in 1928, where he lived until his death. Castaing's work is marked by the academic tradition, in which drawing plays as important a role as painting. Although his drawings are often sketches that help to set up large painted compositions, they stand as independent artworks in which the artist fully expresses the vivacity of his talent. Castaing was a fervent Christian and religious painting played an essential part in his work, as shown by the decorations he created for the churches of Bizanos, Borce, Bidache and Salies-de-Béarn. The painter also created several secular decorations, such as that for the dining room of the Villa Saint-Basil's in Pau in 1935, and the Hunting at the Albret’s time commissioned in 1940 by the Prefecture of Pau. The décor created in 1942-1943 for the Château de Diusse, a mansion located north-east of Pau, was his last large-scale décor, as the painter died shortly after its completion on December 8th 1943. 2. Description of the drawing Our pastel depicts an eminently secular theme: Spring is embodied by Flore, crouching on the ground with one knee touching the ground. She reveals her ample bosom by removing her shirt, her arms raised above her shoulders to undress. Given Castaing's classical training at the Beaux-Arts and the influence of ancient statuary...

This exceptional bronze group (unpublished), executed in Rome in the second half of the 18th century, bears witness to the fascination with the Laocoön since its discovery on January...

We would like to thank Dr. Ursula Härting who, after examining the work, confirmed the autograph nature of this painting by Frans Francken the Younger in a certificate issued on Dece...

Leo Berger (Swiss, 1885-1973) "Skater" Patinated Bronze Sculpture, early 20th century, possibly depicting the Swedish ice skater Gillis Grafstrom, on a marble plinth, signed "L Berge...

Magpie by Jan and Joël MARTEL (1896-1966) A rare and genuine bronze sculpture with a dual patina, dark brown and gilded Signed to the front of the base " J. Martel " Cast by " Susse...

"Young girl sitting at her toilet" also known as "Young girl with braids" by Joseph BERNARD (1866-1931) Sculpture in bronze with a nuanced brownish dark green patina Signed on the ...

Antique American Bronze sculpture of Diana The Huntress with a Doe, by Edward Francis McCartan (1879-1947), New York circa 1920. The Bronze depicting the Roman Goddess Diana, holding...