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About us

silla was born out of a passion for beautiful objects: special pieces with aesthetic and historical significance. In 2009, after years of collecting, Andrew Silla and his wife Grace began to work privately with clients from their residence in Southern Maryland. Quickly outgrowing the space, the business was moved from Maryland to Pennsylvania in 2012 and after several warehouse location changes it was firmly settled in the present brick-and-mortar location in downtown Shippensburg.

The 9000 square foot brick-and-mortar gallery is home to a large collection of works of art and estate jewelry. We specialize in sculpture circa 1860 through 1930 with a particular emphasis on the Animaliers and as such the gallery always has a very large collection of exceptional European and American sculpture available on display.

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"Spanish Guitar Player" | Isidore Bonheur

Bonheur, Isidore

SKU:
004IOK11U
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catalog text

"SPANISH GUITAR PLAYER ON DONKEY" AFTER MODEL BY ISIDORE BONHEUR
Signed in base "I. Bonheur", stamped to reverse PEYROL; circa 1870s
Item # 004IOK11U 


A fine lifetime cast, this bronze sculpture depicts a Spanish peasant playing a classical guitar while riding on the back of a mule. It is a rich model, complete with a handsomely detailed woven blanket saddle, twisted wire reins, finely cast fittings and hardware for the mule as it trudges uphill over a naturalistic mottled base. 

Bonheur's natural handling of the rider is impressive, his posture totally relaxed and carefree as he balances his body on the beast so that he can sing and play guitar without paying attention to the reins.  It was executed in the foundry of his brother-in-law, Hippolyte Peyrol, stamped in the typical tiny foundry marking PEYROL to the reverse of the base; note the underside joinery, free of any hand cut nuts, all elements peened into the base from beneath. 

The sculpture is finished in a superior patination, the translucent brown with hints of black in the recesses with complex variations of reddish and golden hues sealed under wax.  It is signed along the edge of the naturalistic base "I. BONHEUR".

Measurements: 14 1/2" H x 13 3/4" W; base is 4 3/4" D x 10 1/8" W

Condition Report:
Original patina with only very minor handling wear. Cleaned, waxed and polished - in presentation-ready condition.