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Bronze sculpture bust Christ Clésinger founder F. Barbedienne 41cm XIXth

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Bronze sculpture with brown patina representing the bust of Christ with the crown of thorns, signed J. Clésinger * Rome, founder F. Barbedienne **, XIXth century.

This sculpture is in good condition. Signed see photos.

A note: the base (wooden covered with fabric or silk) is worn, some wear over time, see photos.

* Jean-Baptiste Clésinger

French sculptor and painter (born in Besançon on October 20, 1814, died in Paris on January 5, 1883), son of sculptor Georges Clésinger, Auguste Clésinger studied sculpture, with his father who took him to Rome, at the age of ten. eight years. In this city, Clésinger follows the teaching of the sculptor Thorwaldsen. He returned to France and joined Paris in 1838 (after a stay in Switzerland), to enlist in a regiment of cuirassiers stationed at Melun. He became the secretary of General Bougenel, (of which he had made the bust) who obtained permission for him to reside in Paris and to continue his studies. On the recommendation of the painter Jean Gigoux, also from Besançon, he entered the studio of David d'Angers in 1839, without staying there very long. Between 1840 and 1841, he worked in Switzerland, in Lausanne, and produced several busts: Doctor Sécretan; General Laharpe,… Then he stayed in Florence, from where he sent a bust of Jules Valdahon for his first participation in the Salon (1843). In 1847, he married the daughter of Georges Sand and Baron Dudevant (a separation followed five years later). Clésinger receives some orders from the State: the Tragedy (portrait of the actress Rachel), an equestrian statue of Francois 1er (erected in the courtyard of the Louvre and much criticized, this work only remained there for a few months), Louise de Savoie (Jardin du Luxembourg), the Fraternity (erected on the Champ de Mars). Disappointed by the lack of success of his works, Clésinger went into exile in Italy from 1856 to 1864. From 1859, he regularly sent his works to the Salon. Later, he received an order for the Military School for four equestrian statues for the facade of the Military School in Paris. The statues of Marceau, Hoche and Kléber were delivered and that of Carnot was not finished. He is the author of several portraits and busts: Frédéric Chopin; Ledru-Rollin; Théophile Gautier (great admirer of Clésinger); Achille Fould; Eugène Scribe; George Sand. ; Mac-Mahon; Marshal Sébastiani; the Duke of Nemours; the Duke of Reichstadt. He works for the churches of Saint Sulpice (Two kneeling angels, Pieta), of Saint Pierre - Saint Paul in Villeneuve le Roi (Bust of the Virgin), Saint Pierre in Besançon (The Virgin and the Child Jesus). Clésinger is also episodically, animal sculptor: Taureau in the grips with a wolf; Winning bull, Roman bull fight, Ox and bison, Winning bull, Two lions.
As a painter, he presents some paintings in the Salons. He obtained a third class medal in 1846, a second class medal in 1847 (Woman stung by the serpent), a first class medal in 1848 (Bacchante lying). He was decorated with the Legion of Honor in 1849, appointed an officer in 1864.

** Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892)

was a French industrialist. He is mainly known for his bronze art reproduction foundry. Son of a modest Norman farmer, he made a first fortune in wallpapers before associating in 1838 with the mechanic Achille Collas (1795-1859), who had just invented a process of reproduction in bronze and smaller. ladder, works of art. In 1839, Barbedienne founded the house where he had most of the statues in European museums reproduced in bronze, small enough to be able to adorn modern interiors. His idea was to democratize art, by making accessible faithful reproductions of masterpieces. The themes chosen are often allegorical, and draw heavily from the ancient repertoire. Even today, it is quite common to find bronzes signed Barbedienne in "bourgeois" homes. He applied his processes to the work of the sculptors of his time (Barye, Fremiet, Mène, etc.) and created a large number of bronze furniture models, enamels, cloisonné, highs and bas-reliefs in wood, etc. Through the publishing contracts he offered them, he contributed to their success by distributing their works. Being childless, it was his nephew and successor, Gustave Leblanc-Barbedienne, who developed the foundry by specializing in monumental bronzes. In France, many war memorials are signed Leblanc-Barbedienne. The quality of the cast, the chasing and the patina, specific to the Barbedienne way, have meant that the founder's signature has gradually gained in importance. Thanks in particular to Ferdinand Barbedienne, the relationship between sculptor and founder has become analogous to the relationship between composer and performer for music. Ferdinand Barbedienne rests in the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris.

Data sheet

  • Height totale 41 cm / buste 32 cm env.
  • Width aux épaules 22 cm
  • Socle 16,5 cm x 16,5 cm