Antonin MERCIE (1845-1916). David victor. Old bronze proof w - Lot 289

Antonin MERCIE (1845-1916). David victor. Old bronze proof with brown patina signed, founder's mark "F. BARBEDIENNE FONDEUR" and Collas mechanical reduction stamp. Lost-wax casting circa 1890. Bears no. 36 under the terrace and in black ink the reference "1641 ONG" on the reinforcing bar under the terrace. H: 72 cm. Biography: Pupil of Jouffroy and Falguière? Mercié won the first Grand Prix de Rome at the age of 23 with his Thésée vainqueur du Minotaure. His group Gloria Victis, exhibited at the 1874 Salon, brought him fame. Displaying a predilection for patriotic subjects (Joan of Arc). He received numerous official commissions: bronze statuette of Victory at Place Vendôme in Paris, a high relief for the carrousel arch, the renown of the dome of the Palais du Trocadéro, the tombs of painter Paul Baudry and Jules Michelet at Père-Lachaise, Gounod's monument at Parc Monceau, that of poet Armand Silvestre at Place du Canada (75116), pediment of the Sorbonne... Bibliography: KJELLBERG (Pierre). Les bronzes du XIXème siècle (ed de l'Amateur). Reproduced on page 490