'The Water Carrier', Orientalist bronze sculpture by Debut

This charming patinated bronze figure is by the French sculptor Marcel Debut. The sculpture represents a standing male, legs astride as if mid-walk, his hips and torso tilted in classical contrapposto. Wearing a robe, the figure carries in his left hand a pair of steel pliers and in his right hand, supported by his shoulder, he holds a stick that suspends a copper water jug. The figure is often identified as ‘The Arab Water Carrier’, which betrays the Orientalist influences behind the piece. The bronze throughout is exceptionally cast and finely patinated, and the steel and copper elements add a welcome variation in colour.

The piece is signed to the base ‘Debut’ and marked ‘Oudin’, the latter for the Marseille foundry where the piece was likely cast.