Rare French Antique Bronze Sculpture “Credo” by Emmanuel Fremiet

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Rare French Antique Bronze Sculpture “Credo” by Emmanuel Fremiet

About the Item

EMMANUEL FREMIETFrench, 1824-1910"Credo"Silvered and patinated bronze signed "E FREMIET" and numbered 452 verso a lifetime cast by the atelier of Charles MoreItem # 307ENP19A An intricately cast and relatively early model of a knight raising his arms to hold the engraved banner of "CREDO", it is a very fine lifetime casting executed by the Charles More atelier and is numbered to the reverse 452. The surface is beautifully textured with a brilliant detailing of the knight's face, the firmness of his features and resolution of spirit immediately evident in the careful articulation of the bronze. His armor is likewise a perfect picture of realism with careful attention to even the smallest details. It was finished in a silvered patina, this having oxidized, tarnished and rubbed through to create a highly nuanced surface. The base is signed in the typical manner E. FREMIET."I suddenly learned, by a letter from a friend, that one of my special fervent prayers was answered: in my momentum of recognition, I found myself standing, my head bent, my arms in the cross, and murmuring my whole faith. In this moment of love, I made my Credo." explained Frémiet when discussing the creation of a small statuette, which debuted in Antwerp in 1885. This master-model was exhibited in polychromed plaster and was thereafter cast in bronze and distributed to collectors. It quickly became one of his most popular sculptures, selling 112 copies within the first 27 months. This figure was surpassed only by Saint Michel and far exceeded the sales of the equestrian Jeanne d'Arc, despite the latter's significance on the eve of the 1914 war, which had 47 copies sold. Around 1910, Credo likely held great significance for the public, and we might discover the reason for its popularity in the interpretation of Jacques de Biez when he authored the biography on Fremiet. He saw Credo as "the enlightened and almost supernatural man" (1), recognizing that a powerful force is required to inspire people, this being the very concept of the Fatherland, and that force is faith—the very essence of strength and devotion, encapsulated in the Creed. According to Fauré-Frémiet, the sculptor may have even portrayed himself in the guise of the knight, a theory with some merit.Always a cherished model that to this day remains highly sought-after by collectors, it was initially cast by Charles More and was later offered by Barbedienne, who continued to cast the sculpture posthumously. When a fine cast is available on the open-market, the range can be wide depending on the level of detail, nuance and market conditions. For example, an early cast numbered 968 was offered at Christie's, New York at the sale of Christopher Wood (28 February 2007, lot 281, 16 1/2" H including the rouge marble base) where it achieved 38,400 GBP while at Jackson's International, a Barbedienne casting (14 November 2012, lot 843, 15" H) sold for $ 6,000. Jackson's had sold another 15" model in their 02 December 2008 sale (lot 345) for $ 6136 and Sotheby's, New York sold a 16" (including rouge marble base) Barbedienne example for $ 5,000 at their 19 April 2013 sale. A numbered cast sold at Sotheby's, London in 17 May 2011 (lot 26) for 3750 GBP (roughly converting to $ 6075 USD at the time of sale) and another example sold at Sotheby's, London on 29 April 2003 (lot 169) for 4080 GBP (roughly converting to $ 6400 USD at the time of sale). Reference: * Emmanuel Frémiet 1824-1910: La Main et le Multiple, Catherine Chevillot, 1989 * E. Frémiet, Jacques de Biez, 1910 [(1) p. 217] Measurements: 15 1/4" H x 4" D x 12 1/4" W Condition Report:Variation to the original silvered patina throughout together with tarnish and rubbing through the silvering to reveal the nuanced and naturally patinated underlying bronze. Model would have been raised on a marble base originally, the index posts for this having been lost at some point. Carefully cleaned and a brilliant presentation.

Creator:
Emmanuel Fremiet (Sculptor)
Dimensions:
Height: 15.25 in (38.74 cm)Width: 12.25 in (31.12 cm)Depth: 14 in (35.56 cm)
Style:
Romantic (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1900
Condition:
See condition notes in description text.
Seller Location:
Shippensburg, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: 307ENP19A1stDibs: LU1059036550322