Gloria Victis

Details

MARIUS-JEAN-ANTONIN MERCIE (FRENCH, 1845–1916)
Gloria Victis
signed 'A. MERCIE', with foundry inscription 'F. BARBEDIENNE, Fondeur. Paris.' and A. Collas reduction cachet, the integral base inscibed 'GLORIA VICTIS'; on a rouge griotte rotating socle and an ormolu-mounted fluted mahogany pedestal
bronze, mid-brown patina and gilt
36 ½ in. (92.5 cm.), the bronze
80 ¾ in. (204 cm.), overall

Special notice

This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.

Brought to you by

Giles Forster

gforster@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2146

Lot Essay

One of the most successful French sculptors of his generation, Antonin Mercié studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and at the Académie de France in Rome. As early as 1868 he was awarded the Prix de Rome which was soon to be followed by numerous outstanding achievements, such as the cross of the Légion d'honneur in 1872, the Medal of Honor at the 1874 Salon for the Gloria Victis sculpture group, and the Grand Prize at the 1878 Exposition Beaux-Arts and in 1913 he was made the president of the Sociéte des Artistes Français.
The Gloria Victis sculpture group was completed shortly following the Franco-Prussian war. Initially Mercié planned the group to consist of Fame and a victorious soldier but following France's surrender the soldier was replaced with a defeated soldier. Replicas of this classic composition were used on monuments to the dead of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 in many French towns, including Niort, Deux-Sèvres, Agen, Lot et Garonne and Bordeaux.

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