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A French Terracotta Bust of Dante, by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (1824-1887)
Estimate
5,000 - 7,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
with downcast eyes and crowned with a laurel wreath, signed A CARRiER BELLEUSE on the reverse, upon blue ceramic tile and ebonized wooden socle.
Provenance
Sold Sotheby's London, November 5, 2002, lot 154
Literature
RELATED LITERATURE
J.E. Hargrove, The Life and Work of Albert Carrier-Belleuse, New York and London 1977, pp 218-21.
E. Black, 'Terracotta, vol II, 2(i)(a): History and Uses in the Western World', Grove Art Online, Oxford University Press, 2007.
Condition
Overall standard surface wear and chips throughout. Dirt in places. Minor chipping to leaves on the crown. Restorations to leaves and to piece on back of hat. A light clay slip has been applied to the surface. The blue tile with dents and scratches. The ebonized base with vertical crack on the front and chips around the edges.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
In order to meet the growing demand for his series of portrait busts, Carrier-Belleuse utilized mass production techniques, in some instances even allowing commerical manufacturers to reproduce his models. He specifically chose materials, such as terracotta and bronze, which were easier to reproduce in many sizes. These materials also afforded him a greater sense of spontaneity and detail often lost in carved marble or stone. It is interesting to note that through the 18th century, terracotta was normally painted, but Carrier-Belleuse always left his works unpainted, focusing on the natural texture and color of the material.