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Lot Essay
This princely jardinière appears to be unique and without precedent as a model. Whilst its bronze plaques depicting mythological subjects are typical of the 'antique' style developed by Clodion during his studies in Rome between 1762-1777, they are not recorded in the Clodion literature, and indeed although several variants signatures by or after Clodion have been published, that of M. Clodion is unknown.
A very similar plaque, possibly cast in the same workshop, is in the Kunst-halle, Bremen. This is inscribed A Monseigneur LE PRINCE de ROHAN HOMMAGE de L'AUTEUR M. C 1787.
CLODION
Claude Michel, called Clodion (1738-1814), was a pupil of his uncle, Lambert-Sigisbert Adam, and for a short while also studied under Jean-Baptiste Pigalle. Following his studies in Rome at the French Academy between 1762 and 1767, he remained in Italy until his return to Paris in 1771, where he worked virtually without break until 1792. During the latter years of the 1790s he lived and worked in the town of his birth, Nancy, however he returned to Paris for the remaining years of his life. Although commissioned to execute a number of important marbles and bronzes during his career, Clodion is perhaps most celebrated for the delicate terracottas which he produced.
PRINCE DE ROHAN
1774 was a watershed in the career of the bishop and politician Louis-René-Edouard de Rohan (1734-1803). As French ambassador to Vienna he aroused the dislike of Empress Maria Theresa because of his excessive life style and he was forced to return to Paris. A cardinal from 1778, he succeeded in 1779 his uncle as archbishop of Strasbourg.
He is famous for having been involved in the scandal known as the Affaire du Collier de la Reine when undertaking the purchase of a hugely expensive necklace for the Queen Marie-Antoinette, without her authority and without funds of his own.
Keen on philosophy, he was a friend of Buffon and d'Alembert and was a frequent visitor to the circle of Madame Geoffrin. As early as 1761, he became a member of the highly celebrated Académie Française.
A very similar plaque, possibly cast in the same workshop, is in the Kunst-halle, Bremen. This is inscribed A Monseigneur LE PRINCE de ROHAN HOMMAGE de L'AUTEUR M. C 1787.
CLODION
Claude Michel, called Clodion (1738-1814), was a pupil of his uncle, Lambert-Sigisbert Adam, and for a short while also studied under Jean-Baptiste Pigalle. Following his studies in Rome at the French Academy between 1762 and 1767, he remained in Italy until his return to Paris in 1771, where he worked virtually without break until 1792. During the latter years of the 1790s he lived and worked in the town of his birth, Nancy, however he returned to Paris for the remaining years of his life. Although commissioned to execute a number of important marbles and bronzes during his career, Clodion is perhaps most celebrated for the delicate terracottas which he produced.
PRINCE DE ROHAN
1774 was a watershed in the career of the bishop and politician Louis-René-Edouard de Rohan (1734-1803). As French ambassador to Vienna he aroused the dislike of Empress Maria Theresa because of his excessive life style and he was forced to return to Paris. A cardinal from 1778, he succeeded in 1779 his uncle as archbishop of Strasbourg.
He is famous for having been involved in the scandal known as the Affaire du Collier de la Reine when undertaking the purchase of a hugely expensive necklace for the Queen Marie-Antoinette, without her authority and without funds of his own.
Keen on philosophy, he was a friend of Buffon and d'Alembert and was a frequent visitor to the circle of Madame Geoffrin. As early as 1761, he became a member of the highly celebrated Académie Française.