catalog text
ALBERT ERNEST CARRIER-BELLEUSE (FRENCH, 1824-1887) BRONZE SCULPTURE OF SCOTTISH SOLDIER
"LE HIGHLANDER"
Foundry mark of E. de Labroue and signed on base "A. Carrier"
Item # 409NLR19Q
A truly exceptional work from a model by the Romantic sculptor Albert Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, this is one of the most detailed and striking military works we've carried. The figure is of such exquisite realism. The proud figure is complicated, cast with a broad array of accessories, the most noteworthy being his 17" long rifle. The rifle is of such excellent detail that it almost appears to have been cast directly from a period long rifle and translated into bronze. The surface is finished with utmost integrity, all of the filing and chasing work perfectly executed and left invisible beneath a brown, copper-reds and black patina. The overall result is very moving and magnetic - it is a sculpture that warrants hours of close examination and enjoyment, one that captures a sense of intensity and passion.
Regarding the casting of this sculpture, Kjellberg notes that the foundry of E. de Labroue, established at 10 Rue des Filles-du-Calvaire, is specifically known for it's casting of this and a handful of other works by Carrier-Belleuse as well as major works by Pradier, Polet, Feuchére, Michel-Pascal, and Lequesne. The lower edge is signed by the foundry "E de Labroue Flt".
ALBERT ERNEST CARRIER-BELLEUSE:
Albert Ernest Carrier-Belleuse apprenticed as an engraver at age thirteen beside the goldsmith Fauconnier in Paris, later being accepted into the Ecole des Beaux-Arts based on the endorsement of David d'Angers in 1840. His training became evident in his later work with bronzes, the minute and exceptional attention to small details required as a goldsmith eventually would give depth and life to his romantic sculptures. He worked in many mediums, spending time in England from 1850 to 1854 at the Minton porcelain factory where he modeled figures in terra cotta and porcelain. Upon returning to Paris he was eventually named the director of Works of Art at the Sevres porcelain factory in Paris in 1875, many of his works being then interpreted into painted scenes manufactured by the firm while he also experimented with mixing bronze and porcelain. He stood staunchly against the movement for modernism in sculpture, the body of his work focused on nostalgic figures of the past with a heavy emphasis on the 18th Century; interestingly, one of his most famous apprentices was Auguste Rodin, who would eventually father a new era of sculpture in distinct contrast to his tutor. Rodin regarded Albert Carrier-Belleuse so fondly that in 1882 he executed a bust of his friend in Sévres porcelain.
Albert Carrier-Belleuse was nicknamed the "Clodion of the 19th Century" both by his contemporaries and by Napoleon III, his romantic treasures were highly regarded and resulted in him being commissioned for many public monuments during the Second Empire. He remains one of the most prolific artists of his day with nearly unmatched production.
Literature:
- Art Bronzes, Forrest, p. 472 (biography), also extensive photography of Carrier works
- Bronzes of the Nineteenth Century: Dictionary of Sculptors, Kjellberg, p. 189-92, p. 661 regarding E. de Labroue foundry and it's work for Carrier-Belleuse
- Romantics to Rodin: French Nineteenth Century Sculpture, Fusco and Janson, p. 160-172
Measurements: 22" H, width of rifle 17", figure depth of 6 3/4", base diameter of 8" x 8 1/4"
Condition Report:
Exceptional condition. Dust in some crevices. Light abrasion to rim of hat and stock of rifle. Other very minor patina wear. Please review all images in the slideshow for a full overview of condition.
