ANDRÉ MASSOULLE
French, 1851-1901

"Le Trevail"

Patinated bronze | signed "A. Masjouille" in the rock, plaque to base reads "LE TREVAIL / PAR MASJOUILLE (sc)", cast circa 1900

Item # 304XBP24S 

A large and powerful bronze sculpture of a Gaul warrior after a model by André Massoulle, it is particularly interesting in that it depicts the exact same warrior as his model of Sword of Valor. This model depicts the preparation for what Roman historians describe as the Varian Disaster with the young Germanic warrior preparing his armor for battle. His helmet and axe lay at his feet as he works the hammer over the metal shield.

Known as the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, an alliance of Germanic tribes ambushed and battled three Roman legions and dealt an enormous blow to the Roman Empire, one that military historians generally note as Rome’s greatest defeat. While the Roman armies continued to battle the Germanic tribes for years to come, they never thereafter sought territory east of the Rhine. Particularly interesting in the campaign is the complexity of deception required to carry out the ambush: the Germanic tribute Arminius lived under Roman tutelage from childhood, eventually becoming the trusted advisor to Publius Quinctilius Varus. Simultaneously, Arminius had in secret negotiated alliances between warring Germanic tribes against a common enemy: Rome. Varus would eventually lead the campaign against the Germanic tribes, at which point Arminius betrayed Varus and led soldiers against the Roman garrisons. In Massoulle's Sword of Valor is a depiction of the same young warrior after the great battle, the Roman standard lying at his feet while he examines his bent and damaged blade. Interestingly, all models of Le Trevail are signed A. Masjouille while his Sword of Valor is always signed A. Massoulle. Both models are pictured in Kjellberg's voluminous work on sculpture noted below.

Artist Listings & Bibliography:

• Bronzes of the Nineteenth Century, Dictionary of Sculptors, Pierre Kjellberg, 1994, p. 464, present model depicted along with "Sword of Valor"

Measurements: 31" H x 16 1/2" W x 13 3/4" D

Condition Report:
Light wear to the patina from handling in a few areas, some scuffs to the patina on the arms and proper left shoulder blade, cleaned and a fine presentation