After Antoine-Denis Chaudet (1763-1810): A first half 19th century bronze bust of Napoleon together with a later veined rouge marble pedestal

The bust cast after 1812, the pedestal, probably late 19th / early 20th century

The bust cast after 1812, the pedestal, probably late 19th / early 20th century
The sitter modelled full face, a cross belt and military ornaments to his bare chest and shoulders, on integral herm base, mid to dark brown patination, the bust, 60cm, 29cm wide, 24cm deep, the pedestal, 120cm high, 35cm wide, 30cm deep overall (2)

Provenance:
The bust formerly the property of Victor Napoleon and Princess Clementine of Belgium.
Thence by descent, sold Osenat, Paris, 24 March 2013, lot 79.
Acquired by the present vendor in the mid 2010's along with the marble pedestal offered with this lot.

The offered bronze bust is a rare cast bronze edition of a clothed variant derived from an original plainer plaster by Chaudet, arguably depicting France's most famous and influential historical figure in the guise of a Roman dignitary. In the earlier bust, dating from 1799, Chaudet depicts Napoleon with his plain shoulders tapering to a classically inspired 'herm' form base. A marble version of this bust was completed by Chaudet in 1804 and further copies were subsequently made in quantity in Carrara marble between circa 1807 and 1809. Ordered by Napoleon's sister Elisa Baciocchi, who had been presented the principality of Lucca and Massa Carrara by her brother to be displayed in public buildings, the number of these bust made was estimated to be in the region of approximately 1200 although many of these marbles were subsequently destroyed after Napoleon's defeat. From 1805, copies of this same bust in three sizes were also famously made in Sevres biscuit porcelain.

The present lot is a semi-clothed bronze variant of Napoleon featuring a cross belt and military ornaments to Napoleon's chest (as opposed to the usual plain handling of this particular portrait) and this mirrors but is not a complete copy of a fully modelled plaster bust of Napoleon, raised on a socle base also featuring a crossed belt and military ornaments by Chaudet (albeit with a different handling of the face and features) from the turn of the 19th century. This distinctive belt and ornaments were also subsequently added to later Sevres biscuit porcelain cast busts of Napoleon on their herm bases dating from circa 1811 onwards dating the manufacture of this bronze bust to no earlier than 1812.