FRENCH, 19TH CENTURY

Details

A BRONZE EQUESTRIAN MODEL OF HENRY IV
FRENCH, 19TH CENTURY
The King depicted in full military regalia and wearing a laurel wreath; on a rectangular ebonised wood base; medium brown patina with lighter high points
16¼ in. (41.2 cm.) high; 20¾ in. (52.7 cm.) high, overall

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Henry IV (1553 –1610) was the first monarch of the Bourbon dynasty in France. As a Huguenot, he was involved in the Wars of Religion, the conflict between the Catholics and the Protestant Hugenots before ascending to the throne. Upon becoming King he converted to Catholicism and in 1598 promulgated The Edict of Nantes, which guaranteed religious liberties to the Protestants and thereby effectively ending the civil war. He was one of the most popular French kings, both during and after his reign, and showed great care for the welfare of his subjects by displaying an unusual religious tolerance for the time. He was eventually murdered by a fanatical Catholic called François Ravaillac.

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