'République Française', large patinated bronze sculpture by Bertin

By Bertin, Jules (French, 1826-1892)

£35,000

This magnificent patinated bronze sculpture personifies the Republic of France and conveys a solemn message pertinent during the years after the Franco-Prussian war.

 

Questions about this piece?

Description

This exceptionally large and superbly wrought patinated bronze sculpture epitomises with great beauty an important period of French history. The sculpture depicts a full-length, semi-nude female figure, who must be associated with Marianne or Liberty, the personification of France and French Republican virtue who was most famously realised in art by Delacroix.

The figure patriotically holds aloft a flag while standing on a sphere modelled with a territorial map of the Alsace-Lorraine region. In the aftermath of the ill-fated Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71, this region was lost to France and annexed by newly unified Germany—a situation that persisted until the end of the First World War. The message of the sculpture, which was created in 1879 when Alsace-Lorraine was still and recently lost to Germany, is that France will one day prevail.

The bronze is signed, situated, and dated ‘Jules Bertin / Paris / 1879’, and the base is inscribed ‘Alsace’ to one panel, ‘R. F.’ for République Française to another panel, and ‘Lorraine’ to a third. The bronze is set on a shaped red marble plinth.

Total height: 140cm
Bronze: Height 133cm, width 54cm, depth 54cm
Base: Height 7cm, width 58cm, depth 58cm

Details

Artist / Maker
By Bertin, Jules (French, 1826-1892)
Country of Origin
French
Date of Manufacture
1879
Period
Late 19th Century
Style
Belle Époque, Figurative Art
Material
Marble, Patinated Bronze
Colour
Brown, Red

Dimensions

Height
140 cm / 55.1 inches
Width
58 cm / 22.8 inches
Depth
58 cm / 22.8 inches

Reference:
16788

Free International Shipping

This item qualifies for free international shipping, inclusive of professional packing and insurance.
Terms and conditions apply.