Pierre Jules Cavelier Bronze Sculpture of Penelope by F. Barbedienne

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Pierre Jules Cavelier Bronze Sculpture of Penelope by F. Barbedienne

About the Item

PIERRE JULES CAVELIER (FRENCH, 1814-94) BRONZE SCULPTURE OF A SLEEPING WOMAN "Penelope", cast by F. Barbedienne Fondeurs, sealed verso "729 J Cavelier" with A. Collas reduction seal Item # 503DIP07 This is a precious little antique bronze sculpture by Pierre Jules Cavelier, originally exhibited at Salon in 1842 as Femme Grecque Edormie in plaster, was later exhibited in 1849 as a marble sculpture under the title of Penelope. It was cast almost exclusively by the foundry of Ferdinand Barbedienne and is the only Cavelier sculpture to appear in their 1886 catalog in five reductions after the original. This cast is La reduction no. 4, originally offered at 200 francs with a height of 25 cm. His works are quite scarce, only two sculptures being catalogued in Berman's extensive reference work (vol. III). The sculpture is a highly detailed sand cast example, expertly tooled and finished with a brown patina. The details throughout are finely chiseled, the back of the seat being impressed with a seal typical of Cavelier. Beneath the sculpture, across the bronze stretcher, are ink inscriptions of "48531" with another faded and somewhat illegible inscription; beneath the bar is an impression of "C.77E75". For the serious collector of Romantic period bronze sculptures, this is a finely detailed and well preserved acquisition. Pierre Jules Cavelier was born in August of 1814 and studied under both P. Delaroche and David D'Angers at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts after his entry in 1831. In 1836 he won second prize at the Prix de Rome for his model of Death of Socrates and with his sculpture of Diomedes Removing the Image of the Goddes Pallas Athene from the Citadel of Troy he attained the Prix de Rome in 1842. He was awarded two bronze medals (1842 and 1855) and the medal of honor in 1849, 1853, and 1861. He later was appointed to a professorship at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in 1864. After returning from a five year stay in Rome, he was awarded commissions from the Louvre for the caryatids and crown of the Turgot Pavilion along with several other impressive decorative elements of the Louvre. Furthermore, he received commissions for city hall, the Opera, the Palais Galliera, the churches of Notre Dame and many other notable Parisian buildings. Ultimately he was elected to membership of the Institut des Beaux-Arts in 1865. Literature: E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, vol. III, Grund, p. 621-22 Catalogue des Bronzes d'Art, F. Barbedienne, 1886, p. 41 Bronzes of the Nineteenth Century: Dictionary of Sculptors, Kjellberg, p. 198 Measurements: 5 1/2" D x 7 15/16" W x 9 3/4" H Condition Report: Some minor patina wear throughout, including some old wear inside of folds of dress. Overall very good original condition. We have 21 detailed pictures of this sculpture on our primary website - contact us for a link!

Creator:
Pierre-Jules Cavelier (Sculptor),F. Barbedienne Foundry (Manufacturer)
Dimensions:
Height: 9.75 in (24.77 cm)Width: 7.94 in (20.17 cm)Depth: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)
Style:
Romantic (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Patinated
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa Late 19th Century
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor patina wear.
Seller Location:
Shippensburg, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: 503DIP071stDibs: LU105901988272

Shop All F. Barbedienne Foundry

F. Barbedienne Foundry

Founded by one-time Parisian wallpaper dealer Ferdinand Barbedienne and engineer Achille Collas, one of the most revered foundries in 19th-century France began with the invention of a revolutionary 1830s-era device that could produce proportional reproductions — large or small — of sculptures. Collas’s machine, which yielded miniature likenesses of antiquities for the interiors of homes the world over, was pivotal to the success of the F. Barbedienne Foundry. The successful firm earned prestigious awards and critical acclaim and created exquisite bronze candleholders, clocks and lamps for a range of wealthy and prominent clients.

The duo first launched their company under the name Société Collas et Barbedienne, and early on, they optimized chemical processes for pigmenting and patinating their bronze statuettes. After Collas died in 1859, Barbedienne forged on alone, and the company’s name changed to simply F. Barbedienne.

Barbedienne employed more than 300 workers at that point, and the Maison created a range of furnishings and decorative objects that featured the integration of marble and ormolu accents. However, with the onset of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the foundry was forced to retrofit its molds, and the production of cannons replaced sculptures, furniture and vases.

When Ferdinand Barbedienne passed away in 1891, his nephew and heir, Gustave Leblanc, took over as president, changing the name to Leblanc-Barbedienne. Leblanc expanded production into Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, carrying on the company's legacy with monumental sculptures, and models and securing production rights for famous statues. Paul-Alexandre Dumas, an Art Nouveau maker and student of Louis Majorelle, succeeded Leblanc until the company's closing in 1952.

Barbedienne pieces had been exhibited regularly in the 19th century and were especially prevalent at Europe’s international expositions and world’s fairs, where they received numerous awards. Today, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris holds dozens of Barbedienne works in its collection, including intricate mirrors, vases and cups created by Louis-Constant Sévin at the foundry. For more than two decades, Sévin created lamps, boxes and more at Maison Barbedienne. Working alongside award-winning chaser Désiré Attarge, Sévin designed Napoleon III-era works that greatly appealed to European nobility.

Other notable artists who collaborated with Barbedienne included Eugene Aizelin, Emmanuel Fremiet, Antonin Mercié, Emile Guillemin, Edouard Lievre, Ferdinand Levillain and Auguste Rodin.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Barbedienne decorative objects, lighting and collectibles.