EUGENE MARIOTON
French, 1857-1933
"Vainqueur"
Dark-brown patinated bronze | signed "E. Marioton", foundry cachet for Siot-Decauville, cold-stamped D718 | cast circa 1910
stock ref. 307HZX19A
Measurements: 36 3/4" H x 9 7/16" W x 9 7/16" D
An exquisite example of "Vainqueur" cast after the model by the French sculptor Eugène Marioton, the sculpture is an evocative bronze that captures the heart of triumph and the classical spirit of victory. This fine casting dating from around 1910 is a testament to Marioton's mastery over form and his deep connection to the Neoclassical tradition.
The surface exhibits a dark-brown overall patination on perfectly smoothed and polished flesh, the finely textured garment, shoes and base all exhibiting excellent detail retention. The reverse of the base is sealed with their foundry cachet in a circular motif and is cold-stamped "D718" while the front is carefully engraved with the title of the work and the right side is engraved with the signature.
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, 'Vainqueur' is a good example of Marioton's ability to convey movement and a tangible "fleshiness" in his static figures. The warrior's upraised arm and open stance suggest a moment of exultation while his face is neutral, a picture of humility: the warrior unaffected by the win.
Condition:
Some rubbing wear to patina. Branch with a repaired hairline crack. Ready to place.
Biography
Eugéne Marioton was born in Paris on April 7th of 1857, brother to the likewise famous sculptor Claudius Marioton. They enjoyed strong reputations and careers, Eugéne’s stretching over a fifty year period with his debut at the Salon des Artistes Français in Paris in 1882 where he continued to exhibit regularly through 1922. Both he and his brother studied under Augustin Alexandre Dumont, and he further was pupil to Thomas and Bonnassieux. He won bronze medals at the 1889 and 1900 Exposition Universelle and a traveling scholarship in 1888. He specialized in small bronze works, mostly figural studies that were academic and executed in the Romantic taste. Of these, a majority were cast by the E. Colin et Cie and Siot-Decauville foundries.
References:
- Bronzes of the 19th Century: A Dictionary of Sculptors, Pierre Kjellberg, p. 458-60
