catalog text
MARIUS REMONDOT
French, 1867-1921
"Frédéric Mistral, the Old Shepherd" (1911)
Verde patinated bronze | Signed on the base "Marius Remendot", sealed with the foundry cachet for Thiebaut Freres | cast circa 1920
Item # 404SIP28Q
A monument Marius Remondot worked on from 1908 through 1911, she finally presented an ode to the poet as "Frédéric Mistral, the Old Shepherd" at the Paris Salon of 1911 (no. 3772) and thereafter offered it to the City of Paris with the only condition being that the city had to pay for its transportation to the site. She had requested that it be placed in the Garden of the Flourist (Jardin du Fleuriste) and today is in the Poet Gardens (Jardin des Poètes, 16 arrondissement) in Paris. A bronze example of the sculpture was acquired by the Belarusian National Arts Museum in Minsk.
The present example is finished in a verde patination with dark brown undertones that in some areas are approaching black. The model was cast by Thiebaut Freres and is sealed with their Fumiêre et Cie Successors cachet on the back of the base behind the figure.
Fredéric Mistral (1830-1914) was a French poet and lexicographer, celebrated for his contributions to Provençal literature and culture. Born in Maillane, France, into a well-to-do family, Mistral devoted much of his life to promoting the Provençal language and traditions. His major works include "Mirèio" (1859), an epic poem that won him critical acclaim and popular success, depicting rural life in Provence.
Mistral was a founding member of the Félibrige, an organization dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the Provençal language and culture. This movement was crucial in fostering a renaissance of regional literature in France. His linguistic efforts culminated in the creation of the "Lou Tresor dóu Felibrige" (1878-1886), the most comprehensive Provençal-French dictionary of its time.
In recognition of his literary achievements, Mistral was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1904, which he shared with José Echegaray. He chose to use his Nobel Prize money to establish the Museon Arlaten in Arles, a museum dedicated to Provençal folklore and traditions. Mistral's work not only enriched French literature but also significantly influenced the cultural identity of Provence. He remained in his hometown of Maillane, where he died in 1914, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of literature and cultural preservation.
Curator's notes: We had a chance to carry this model twelve years ago, a small 9" model that was equally exquisite and loosely impressionistic. At the time we had no chance to research the figure or consider the context behind it as he sold too quickly, but I found the figure thought-provoking and I've found myself thinking about the figure many times over the subsequent years. The elderly man wears the ravages of time with grace and his eyes look well into the future while leaning on his staff, stooped from the majority of his years already behind him. The small model that I found so optimistic is that much more powerful in this much more substantial profile! It is a glowing rendition of the subject that seems almost immortalized in the antiquity of a brilliant translucent verdigris patination.
Measurements: 24 7/8" H x 11 7/8" W x 8 1/2" D
Condition Report:
Fine original condition. Loss of patina to the edge of the base by the figure's proper left foot and a few scratches to his garment on the proper left side. Cleaned and sealed in conservator's grade wax. A very fine presentation.