David avant le combat

Details

Antonin Mercié (French, 1795-1875)
David avant le combat
signed 'A. Mercié', inscribed 'F Barbedienne Foundeur.' twice (on the base); inscribed and dated 'Biarritz Fevrier 1882' (on the front)
bronze with dark brown patina
height: 18½ in. (47 cm.)
Conceived in 1876 and executed in 1882

Literature

Catalaogue des Bronze D'Art F. Barbedienne, Chicago, 1886, p. 48 (illustrated).
H. Berman, Bronzes, Sculptors & Founders 1800-1930, Chicago, 1980, vol. IV, p. 904, no. 3451 (another cast illustrated).

Exhibited

Paris, Salon, 1876, no. 3477 (a marble version).

Lot Essay

Following the successful exhibition of his David in the Salon of 1872 (see lot 89), Mercié decided to portray David shortly before his fight with Goliath, armed only with a sling. The present lot is a rare example of this work cast by the Barbedienne foundry. A marble version of the present lot was exhibited in the Salon of 1876 and a plaster version of the present lot was also exhibited at the International Exhibition of 1878 in Paris.

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