CAST AFTER THE MODEL BY VICTOR PAILLARD, CIRCA 1880

Although best known as a bronze founder, Victor Paillard (1805-1886) also created and produced his own sculptures and groups, and designed and made chenets, candelabra, other decorative objects and clocks. While a child he learnt the art of chasing and in the 1830s opened his own business of Bronze d'art et d'ameublement at 105 boulevard Beaumarchais and 6 rue Saint-Claude, first showing his own work at the Exposition des produits de l'industrie in 1839. By 1855 he was employing about a hundred workmen, and was able to offer his clients hundreds of models in bronze and zinc imitations. As a founder he worked for numerous well-known sculptors such as Pradier, Barye and Carrier-Belleuse. His casts are usually marked with the initials VP surmounted with a closed crown. In 1891, a few years after his death, most of his models were sold.