Emile-Edmond Peynot “Albaya’ El Tunsi” The Tunisian Merchant Bronze, 1883

Émile-Edmond Peynot, (French, 1850 -1932)
An exceptional, exquisite and rare orientalist bronze sculpture titled Albaya’ El Tunsi / The Tunisian Merchant / The Arab rifleman.
Depicting a young Arab cleaning his flintlock pistol.
Size: 26? high x 11? diameter
The base signed Peynot-1883 and titled in Arabic Marchand Tunisien.
Excellent condition. Minor rubbing and scratches to patina. Very crisp.

Literature:
H. Berman, Bronzes, Sculptors & Founders 1800-1930, Chicago, 1980, vol. IV, p. 951, no. 3646 (another cast illustrated as Young Arab Soldier).
M. Forrest, Art Bronzes, Pennsylvania, 1988, p. 438, no. 10.40 (another cast illustrated as Tunisian Arms Merchant).

Exhibited
Paris, Salon, 1883, no. 1383 (another bronze cast).

Born in 1850 in France, Emile Edmond Peynot (d. 1932) studied under Jouffroy and Robinet and exhibited at the Salon from 1873 onwards, winning the Prix de Rome in 1880, numerous medals between 1883 and 1886, as well as gold medals at the Expositions Universelles of 1889 and 1900. He became a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in 1891 and an Officier in 1903. He sculpted many monuments and statues all-over France.

Capturing a moment of contemplative tranquility Peynot’s Marchand Tunisien also exudes a sense of strength, power and dignity. In fact the present lot was a great commercial success following its exhibition at the Salon of 1883 making the piece almost a requirement for all major Orientalist collections across time.