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Lot Essay
The vogue for animalier portraiture during the Second Empire was encouraged by royal patronage. Along with Carpeaux's celebrated portrait of the Prince Imperial with his dog Nero, and Frémiet's depiction of Napoleon III's hounds Ravageot and Ravageole, the present bronze is a fine example of the genre
The subject, Druid, was a favorite pet of Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (d.1873) who became Napoleon III in 1852. Another Peyrol cast of this bronze inscribed DRUID S.A.J. le Prince Napoléon, is illustrated by Payne where he describes it as an "immensly sensitive and rare portrait" (C. Payne, Animals in Bronze, Woodbridge, 1986, p. 215, pl. D45).
Primarily known as a painter, Gélibert won medals from 1869-1900, including bronze medals at the Expositions Universelle of 1889 and 1900.
The subject, Druid, was a favorite pet of Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (d.1873) who became Napoleon III in 1852. Another Peyrol cast of this bronze inscribed DRUID S.A.J. le Prince Napoléon, is illustrated by Payne where he describes it as an "immensly sensitive and rare portrait" (C. Payne, Animals in Bronze, Woodbridge, 1986, p. 215, pl. D45).
Primarily known as a painter, Gélibert won medals from 1869-1900, including bronze medals at the Expositions Universelle of 1889 and 1900.