Stephan Welz & Co
Lot 223
ARTHUR JACQUES LEDUC (1848 – 1918): NESSUS AND DIEANEIRA depicting the centaur Nessus carrying Dieaneira on his back, on a rectangular base, signed, missing sceptre 72cm high This popular story from Greek Mythology teaches us about a wild centaur named Nessus who attempts to violate Dieaneira as he ferries her across the river Euenos. Heracles hearing his wife’s screams, shoots Nessus with a poisoned arrow, which pierces his chest. As he lays dying, Nessus persuades Dieaneira to take a sample of his blood, telling her that a potion of it will ensure Heracles fidelity to her forever. Later, when Heracles casts aside Dieaneira in pursuit of a princess, she attempts to win him back by soaking his tunic in the potion. The centaur's toxic blood burns Heracles to death. In despair, Dieaneira committs suicide. The Bronze Revival The desire for porcelain, which had driven out the fashion for bronze statuettes in the 18th century, took a change in direction. The popularity of Sevres biscuit reproductions by leading sculptors energised the interest, making way for resurgence in bronze. Between 1820 and 1900 there was a combination of contrasting artistic ideals. Traditional representations of biblical and mythological subjects found themselves challenged by the need to portray more realistic subject matter, rather narrating what was happening to the people of the time. Sculptures depicting figures weighed down by grief, slavery, and fear of god exposed the harsh conditions of existence for the common person in the 19th century. Another transition was that it was now the bronze foundries, organised into an association, who were in control of production, as they often held the sculptor under contract. If a sculpture was favourably received on public exhibition at the Paris Salon, the artist would either commission the foundry to produce an edition for sale, alternatively the foundry would buy the rights to make an edition, thus democratising the art form and making it more attainable to the general public. La Maison Barbedienne was the most significant French manufacturer of bronze sculpture and works of art during the 19th century. Founded in 1834 by Ferdinand Barbedienne, the company employed over 400 workers housed under one roof at the factory on Rue de Lancry. This included a design studio for the drawing, study and composition of models, a sculpture studio for plaster, wood and marble, and a workshop for the mathematical reduction and replication of sculpture invented by Achille Collas, amongst others. This golden age ended at the turn of the century when the small industrial sculpture gradually lost its allure with the emergence of new demands for innovation from customers and moderation by sculptors. Following Barbidiennes death in 1892, the firm was carried on by his nephew Gustave Leblanc until 1952, which reflected the general depreciation for the bronze art. T.D.
