A FRENCH BRONZE FIGURE OF THE GLADIATOR, CAST BY F. BARBEDIENNE, PARIS, AFTER THE ANTIQUE, SHOWN WITH HIS LEGS ASTRIDE BY A TREE TRUNK AND HIS HANDS HELD OUT, THE TREE TRUNK WITH GREEK INSCRIPTION, ON A RECTANGULAR BASE INSCRIBED F. BARBEDIENNE. FONDEUR AND STAMPED IN A ROUNDEL A. COLLAS REDUCTION MECANIQUE BREVETE, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BASE ENGRAVED 144 AND INSCRIBED IN INK 38175

Details

A FRENCH BRONZE FIGURE OF THE GLADIATOR, CAST BY F. BARBEDIENNE, PARIS, AFTER THE ANTIQUE, SHOWN WITH HIS LEGS ASTRIDE BY A TREE TRUNK AND HIS HANDS HELD OUT, THE TREE TRUNK WITH GREEK INSCRIPTION, ON A RECTANGULAR BASE INSCRIBED F. BARBEDIENNE. FONDEUR AND STAMPED IN A ROUNDEL A. COLLAS REDUCTION MECANIQUE BREVETE, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BASE ENGRAVED 144 AND INSCRIBED IN INK 38175
12¾IN. (32.5CM.) HIGH
THE BASE: 9IN. (23CM.) X 5¼IN. (13.5CM.)

Lot Essay

THIS SCULPTURE IS A COPY OF THE FAMOUS BORGHESE GLADIATOR WHICH WAS FOUND IN 1611 AT NETTUNO, NEAR ANZIO. BY 1613 IT WAS IN THE BORGHESE COLLECTION AND WAS EVENTUALLY PLACED IN THE VILLA BORGHESE. IN 1807 IT WAS PURCHASED BY NAPOLEON BONAPARTE IN HIS EFFORTS TO CREATE A NATIONAL MUSEUM. IT WAS PLACED IN THE SALLE D'APOLLON IN THE MUSEE NAPOLEON, BEFORE BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE LOUVRE, WHERE IT HAS REMAINED SINCE.

FERDINAND BARBEDIENNE (1810-1892) ESTABLISHED HIS FOUNDRY IN 1833. IN CONJUNCTION WITH ACHILLE COLLAS (D. 1859), WHO INVENTED A MACHINE CAPABLE OF COPYING SCULPTURES IN REDUCED SIZE, HE INITIALLY SPECIALIZED IN COPIES OF ANTIQUE MODELS. AFTER HIS DEATH IN 1892 GUSTAVE LEBLANC, HIS NEPHEW, TOOK OVER THE FOUNDRY, RENAMING IT LEBLANC-BARBEDIENNE

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