Drama in the Desert | Georges Gardet

GEORGES GARDET
French, 1863-1939

"Le Drame au Désert"

Patinated bronze | Signed in cast "Georges Gardet" | cold-stamped 3105 | conceived 1887, cast circa 1910

Item # 411RAL12A  A very compelling lifetime cast of Georges Gardet's "Desert Drama", it was conceived by Gardet in 1887 as a young artist just 24 years old. He presented the model in plaster at the Paris Salon of the same year and it was a major success for him. A monumental example in bronze was commissioned from him in 1888 and remains where it was originally placed in the Parc Montsouris in Paris in 1891. In 1891 he won first prize for the group when exhibiting it again at Salon.

This intense scene depicts a lioness returning to her den only moments after a python has killed both of her young cubs. The serpent's body entwines her lifeless helpless children as it tenses its coiled body and readies for a certain battle.

Reductions of this model were cast by Siot-Decauville in several reductions. The present example retains a delightful nuanced patina with autumnal undertones coming through the overall medium-brown translucent patina - it is silky and positively gorgeous. The crisp chiseling and finishing work is notable. The cast is not marked by the foundry, but is almost certainly cast by Siot-Decauville (particularly in light of the four digit serial number, typical of their production).

The scale and overall presence of the model is notable with a total width of nearly 27 inches. Our gallery has handled the smaller reduction (total width of ~ 12"), but this large and imposing dimension is exceedingly rare.

Raw, emotive and incredibly powerful. Artist Listings & Bibliography: "Les bronzes du XIXe siècle, dictionnaire des sculptures", Pierre Kjellberg, 1987, p. 342
Measurements: 26 1/2" W x 11 1/2" D x 12" H Condition Report:
Very minor patina wear, mostly isolated to the tail and upper portions of the panther's back and a few raised elements; otherwise in nearly perfect original condition, carefully cleaned and polished, a brilliant presentation ready to place.