19th Century French Borghese Gladiator Bronze of Large Scale

A large and impressive French Empire period gilt bronze mantel clock of exceptional quality and colour. French (possibly retailed in Italy) - Circa 1820. The finely chased and original gilt bronze case depicting Orpheus playing his lyre with an eight-day bell striking movement, outside countwheel, backplate initialled and numbered 'A C D 1516’. The dial with Roman numerals and inscribed Riccardo Pacinoti of Lavourne. It is a French movement (silk suspension) striking the hour and half hour. The case in the form of an oblong pillar cast with anthemium and cornucopia beneath a draped urn and a laurel wreath, flanked by the figure of Orpheus playing his lyre, the stepped plinth cast with wonderfully detailed underworld scenes, on leaf scroll feet. In excellent condition the clock case has been cleaned with the movement completely overhauled and serviced to the highest standard by a specialist restorer. In general 19th century French bronze clocks...

Extremely fine marble group of Bacchus and Ariadne after the antique attributed to Carlo Albacini (1734 – 1813) Italy Rome circa 1800 Provenance A French Private Collection Carved in the round of white marble, the young couple shown walking and apparently exchanging words, his left arm gently wrapped around her shoulder, upholding part of her drapery, a wreath of fruit-bearing vines placed on his head, while hers shows no berries, from her right shoulder suspended a suggestive skin of a goat. In excellent condition having a restoration on Ariadne's left index finger. This finely carved sculptural group is one of a number of known examples of this subject, all inspired by a Greco-Roman classical original 1st and 2nd centuries A.D which is now in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (inv.68.770). Demonstrating the beginning of Bacchus' courtship of Ariadne and illustrates the “Return to Antiquity” which was expressed in numerous archaeological works in Rome at the end of the 18th Century. The subject matter made it perfect for a wide variety of settings and fine copies of the subject which survive in such collections as the Rothschilds at Waddesdon Manor, the Pitti Palace in Florence, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nantes, the Musées royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique and the National Trust property Erddig in Wales. This marble is exemplary of neoclassical aesthetics, by its ancient origin and by the creativity of the sculptor who perfectly links these two figures in the manner of Antonio Canova's standing groups (see Daedalus and Icarus or Venus and Adonis). This marble represents a moment of tender complicity illustrating the ability of neoclassical sculptors to detach themselves from ancient rigour in order to introduce an ideal of softness into their works. These two figures are not simply next to each other, but marry through the fusion of their drapes, through the play of glances and through the embracing gesture of Bacchus. Of the surviving 18th and early 19th century examples of this group, the finest are signed by or attributed to the Italian master Carlo Albacini (1734-1813). Albacini was a restorer of ancient marbles who worked extensively on such aristocratic assemblages as the Charles Townley collection, later to form the basis of the fine sculpture collections at the British Museum, whilst also creating copies of these antique pieces for his elite clientele. Aside from Townley, one of the most interesting and important English collectors of this period was the Earl of Bristol who had a fine house in Naples, a London townhouse and his Suffolk family seat Ickworth which he intended to fill with exceptional examples of art of all kinds. Bristol was a great patron of Italian artists and a chimneypiece from his collection that was supplied for his Italian home and later fitted at Ickworth was sold at Sotheby's on the 26th of November 2003 lot 87. This exceptionally carved chimneypiece...

An Extremely Italian Rare Bronze Locking Vessel With Latin Inscription, Possibly with Maritime Associations. Italy circa 1780-1820 This very unusual bronze...

A pair of exceptionally elegant and important late Empire five-light figural candelabra ‘A la Victoire’ in gilt-bronze, attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire, after a design by Charles Percier. Imposing size at 81cm in height. French Paris c.1820 Superbly cast, in the Neo-Classical style, the five scrolling foliate candle branches enclosing central sconces issuing from a circular wreath supported by the winged figure of Victory (Nike), wearing diaphanous robes gathered by a sash above a long underskirt splaying out from above her ankles, with beautifully feathered wings flowing behind her as she looks straight ahead. Each figure standing on one foot, the other bent, resting on a plain sphere over a reeded palmette-cast baluster pedestal raised on square plinth. Wonderful colour and patina, pierced for electricity, old inventory label to the underside. We are delighted to have been able to acquire these important candelabra as rarely does one get the opportunity to purchase items by P P Thomire...

An impressive and high quality Italian 19th century Grand Tour Period patinated bronze statue of the Borghese Gladiator. The statue is raised by a rectangular base where the handsome...

19th-century Italian Grand Tour Bronze of the Gladiator, After the Roman Antique Attributed to the Naples Foundry, late 19th century This fine 19th-century Italian Grand Tour bronze...

A French bronze figure of the Borghese Gladiator, mid-19th century, cast by Ferdinand Barbedienne, after the antique. Base dimensions: 34.5cm...

Our magnificent bronze, entitled Der Gladiator, depicting a Roman gladiator preparing to fight was modeled by the German artist, Heinrich Baucke (1875-1915). Mounted to a green variegated marble plinth measuring 23 by 15 inches and with an overall height of 39 inches. Signed on the base with the stamped mark of the foundry, DUSSELDORFER BRONCEGIESSEREI G.m.b.H. The artist enjoyed a prestigious career.  According to the Benezit, Baucke studied under Karl Janssen at the Dusseldorf Academy of Fine Arts.  In 1903 Baucke moved to Berlin and executed several commissions for Kaiser Wilhelm II including a major work at the Royal Palace in Berlin (known since the end of the monarchy in 1918 as the Berlin Palace) and supervision of the development of the Schlossplatz palace square.  Commissions included the Monument to William I at Rotthausen, the bronze of King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia at the town hall in Elberfeld, a statue of King Frederick I, a stone statue of Maurice of Nassau and marble busts of Helmuth von Moltke, Chief of the German General Staff, and German Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck...