French bronze sculpture bust of a man by Aimé-Jules Dalou

French bronze sculpture bust of a man by Aimé-Jules Dalou
French, 1888
Height 49cm, width 20cm, depth 21cm

This fine patinated bronze bust by the French sculptor Aimé-Jules Dalou (1838-1902)portrays a young, idealistically beautiful man. The sitter gazes to the heavens with his mouth slightly agape. The bronze is superbly rendered and textured and is set atop a red marble plinth. The piece is signed to the reverse ‘DALOU 1888’.

Dalou spent his training and early career in Paris, exhibiting at the Paris Salon for the first time in 1861 (where he became friends with the great sculptor Auguste Rodin). Whilst he later went on to create several notable French sculptures including 'The Triumph of the Republic' (Place de la Nation, Paris), following the Franco-Prussian War he spent several years in England. During this time he was commissioned by Queen Victoria to create a memorial sculpture for her late grandchildren. Housed in the private Royal Chapel of Windsor Castle, the sculpture depicts an angel cradling many children. Dalou completed several studies of the angel bust in preparation for this commission, which he later sold as individual works - this cast is from one such study. The original sculpture is now housed in the Royal Collection Trust.

The model for the angel is the son of Angelino Cartioni, Dalou's London assistant. The fact that sculpture has no foundry marks indicates that it is a rare English cast rather than a typical French one. Another study of the angel figurehead is held in the Chrysler Museum of Art.

Boasting a fascinating English royal history, this impressive bust is highly desirable.