French Bronze Sculpture of Two Dogs, R Varnier for the Salon des Beaux-Arts 1923

Standing over 2 feet tall, these high quality bronze statues depict soldiers during the French revolutionary wars. They are labeled and signed Dumaige (French sculptor, Etienne-Henry Dumaige 1830-1888). The statues show incredible detail, excellent proportion, and retain their original, rich, brown patina, which is still in remarkable condition. Each solider has a raised brass placard on the front of the 1 ½” thick square bases: one reads Avant le combat volontaire de 1792 par Dumaige, H.C, while the other is titled “Apres le combat grenadier de 1792 par Dumaige, H.C.”. The designation “H.C.” stands for Hors concours (“standout”), which is used for artwork that is excluded from competition because it has already claimed top honors elsewhere. Avant, meaning “before” shows our soldier as a volunteer drummer. Drums were used on the battlefield not only to provide cadence for the soldiers, but also to issue orders based on the percussion pattern. Here, our soldier’s drum is attached to a harness that runs across his right shoulder. Both hands are gripping the frame of the drum, while there is a drumstick in his left hand. There is a satchel on the soldier’s back as he stands on grass with a small wood fence behind him. Our soldier has a mustache with long braided hair in the back. He is wearing a fluted bicorne with a pomme tuft and has earrings in both ears. His jacket is knee-length in the back, with tasseled epaulets on the shoulders. Apres, meaning “after”, depicts the man as a grenadier, enjoying tobacco after a conflict. The grenadier...

This large French bronze sculpture depicts a family of deer traversing across a rocky terrain dotted with flowers. Sculpted in the late 1800s by Clovis-Edmond Masson, the sculpture has fantastic movement, as all three deer are depicted in full stride, with their hooves off the ground. The largest of the group is a stag with a wide antler spread and detailed musculature. To the stag’s left is a doe looking back towards a fawn, who is looking up at the stag. The sculpture has a rich, green-brown patination with areas that have retained the gold of the bronze. Behind the doe are two engravings: “C. Masson” and “Salon des Beaux-Arts”, indicating that the sculpture is the work of Clovis-Edmond Masson and was exhibited at the Paris Salon (the original). Clovis-Edmond Masson was born in Paris in 1838 and specialized in sculptures that accurately depicted animal behavior. Masson exhibited at the Salon regularly from 1867-1881, placing this sculpture in that time frame. The most famous work by Masson was commissioned by Rama V...

Cast during the early 1900s in France, this captivating bronze statue boasts a rich patina with a mesmerizing blend of turquoise, gold, and gray patina, giving it a unique and timele...

Made in plaster, circa 1880, this interesting French sculpture depicts Francois Rene de Chateaubriand sitting with his legs crossed in an armchair. A rolled scroll is in his right hand, which rests on his thigh and books and scrolls are strewn beneath the chair. Chateaubriand’s long overcoat is unbuttoned and gathered, showing an elegant frock and bowtie ensemble beneath. Beneath the chair is a shaped plinth with cavetto molding on all sides and “Chateaubriand” incised along the front. Francois Rene de Chateaubriand was born in Saint-Malo, France in 1768, the youngest of 10 children. A noted politician, historian, and author, Chateaubriand had a profound effect on literature, being the first major figure of Romanticism. Chateaubriand was also the original man of letters, a group of French authors that also had burgeoning political careers. A fellow man of letter, Victor Hugo was so inspired by Chateaubriand that he is known for having said “To be Chateaubriand or nothing”. This French plaster sculpture...

Superb Demosthenes bust in green hued patinated bronze by the artist René André Varnier. Excellent capture of the oratory prowess of Demosthenes considered...

Elegant pair of gilt bronze dog sculptures. The item will be well-suited to either an indoor or outdoor setting.

Gilt bronze sculpture of two dogs with a dish. One dog standing, the other lying down. inscribed Thomas Cartier / copyright 1904 by Georges Raingo

" Bronze Sculpture , Hunting Dogs Assaulting the Wild Boar. " Bronze sculpture in the Napoleon III style, 20th century, the hunting dogs attacking the wild boar, green patina. H: 33...