the young Bacchic putto seated on a striding jaguar, the rectangular base inscribed, signed and dated JEUNESSE DE BACCHUS, J CLESINGER. Rome. 1869 with Bronze Artistique de Paris pastille mark, brown patina, 44.2cm high

Footnotes

Provenance:
Acquired by a private UK collector, Sotheby's, London, 23 November 1990, 19th Century Sculpture, lot 90.

This present lot is a reduction in bronze of the marble group in the Museum of Versailles which was exhibited at the centennial exhibition of French Art in 1900, originally executed in 1868 in white marble and in grey marble the following year. It is one of only two known models by Clésinger cast by the Marnyhac foundry, the larger edition being produced by Clésinger's usual foundry, Barbedienne.

Clésinger first studied under his father, the artist George Philippe before continuing his studies under Bertel Thorwaldsen in Rome and David D'Angers in Paris. He began exhibiting in the Salon in 1843 making his debut with a bust of Viscomte jules de Valdon. In his lifetime he was commissioned to do many public monuments including the bust of Liberty on the Champs de Mars and he was created an Officer of the Legion of Honour in 1884.

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Michael Lake