ATTRIBUÉ À HUBERT LE SUEUR (PARIS, VERS 1580-VERS 1660), DÉBUT DU XVIIe SIÈCLE
ATTRIBUÉ À HUBERT LE SUEUR (PARIS, VERS 1580-VERS 1660), DÉBUT DU XVIIe SIÈCLE
ATTRIBUÉ À HUBERT LE SUEUR (PARIS, VERS 1580-VERS 1660), DÉBUT DU XVIIe SIÈCLE
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ATTRIBUÉ À HUBERT LE SUEUR (PARIS, VERS 1580-VERS 1660), DÉBUT DU XVIIe SIÈCLE
19 More
PROVENANT DE LA COLLECTION QUENTIN
ATTRIBUÉ À HUBERT LE SUEUR (PARIS, VERS 1580-VERS 1660), DÉBUT DU XVIIe SIÈCLE

Mars

Details
ATTRIBUÉ À HUBERT LE SUEUR (PARIS, VERS 1580-VERS 1660), DÉBUT DU XVIIe SIÈCLE
Mars
laiton, reposant sur un socle postérieur en marbre vert veiné
H. 47,2 cm (18 5/8 in.) ; H. totale 59,5 cm (22 ¼ in.)
Provenance
Avec Michael Hall, New York.
Avec Patricia Wengraf Ltd., Londres.
D'où acquis directement par Claudia Quentin, 2001.
Literature
M. Leithe-Jasper, "Die Fürstliche Kunsthammer als Quelle der Anregung für Künstler, Am Beispiel der einwirung François Duquesnoys auf Georg Raphal Donner," in Zu Gast in der Kunsthammer, cat. expo., Vienne, 1991, p. 103.
M. Leithe-Jasper dans Von Allen Seiten Schön, Bronzen der Renaissance und des Barock, cat. expo., Berlin, 1995, no. 198.

BIBLIOGRAPHIE COMPARATIVE
C. Avery, Studies in European Sculpture, Londres, 1981, p. 133, fig. 7, p. 136, pl. XII.
C. Avery, "Hubert le Sueur's, the ˈUnworthy Praxitelesˈ of King Charles I", The Walpole Society, vol. XLVIII, 1982, pp. 135-209, figs. 58a, c et d.
Exhibited
New York, The Frick Collection, European Bronzes from the Quentin Collection, 28 septembre 2004-2 janvier 2005, pp. 238-245, no. 25.
Further Details
A BRASS FIGURE OF MARS, ATTRIBUTED TO HUBERT LE SUEUR (CIRCA 1580-CIRCA 1660), EARLY 17TH CENTURY

No other example of this superbly executed model is known. This Mars is attributed to the French artist Hubert Le Sueur (c.1580-c.1660), who became sculptor to Henri IV in 1608 and was active in England from 1625. Le Sueur drew his inspiration from antique sculptures, particularly the Belvedere Antinous, a cast of which he made on his return from Italy in 1631 (Windsor Castle, Royal Collection, inv. no. RCIN71438). The posture of Mars recalls that of Antinous, both models being supported at the hip. The god of war is wearing a ceremonial helmet with a visor adorned with a feline mask and wide scrolls running along the crest. Known as a "bourguignotte de parade", this type of helmet is typical of the early years of the 16th century, showing the developments in ornamentation that had begun in the 1550s. The great attention paid to the detailing of the helmet demonstrates a thorough knowledge of military uniforms, which probably derived from Le Sueur's father's profession as a master armourer. The same skill and precision in the helmets can be seen in the equestrian sculpture of Henry IV (Victoria & Albert Museum, London, inv. no. A.46-1951) and the bust of Charles I (Stourhead, Wiltshire, The National Trust), which display similar ornamental motifs.


Please note a scanned copy of the full catalogue entry from the catalogue of the 2004 Quentin Collection exhibition at The Frick Collection, New York, is available upon request.

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