France, between 1745 and 1749, based on a model by Jean de B
France, between 1745 and 1749, based on a model by Jean de Bologne, known as Giambologna (1529–1608), distributed by Antonio Susini (1572–1624) "Peasant Resting on His Staff" Bronze statuette with a brown patina Bears the “crowned C” hallmark on the back of the base Height: 13 cm On a blackened wooden pedestal; Height: 4 cm Provenance : * French private collection, then passed down through the family to the present day Expert: LACROIX JEANNEST, Ms. Élodie Jeannest de Gyvès Related works: -Jean Boulogne, known as Giambologna (1529–1608), Peasant Leaning on His Staff, ca. 1574–1580, bronze with a translucent brown patina, H. 13 cm, Rome, Museo Nazionale del Palazzo Venezia, inv. no. 10809; -Antonio Susini after a model by Giambologna, Peasant or Cowherd Leaning on His Staff, bronze, H. 12.7 cm, Quentin Collection, later sold at Christie’s New York on January 30, 2024, lot 15. Related literature: -A. Radcliffe and C. Avery, *Giambologna 1529–1608: Sculptor to the Medici*, Edinburgh and London, 1978, nos. 137–138. -M. Leithe-Jasper and P. Wengraf, *European Bronzes from the Quentin Collection*, New York, 2004, no. 13. -Pietro Cannata, *Museo nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia*. Vol. III. *Sculture in bronzo*, Gangemi Editore, Rome, 2011, no. 81, pp. 76–77. The model for this small bronze depicting a peasant leaning on a staff in a dynamic and graceful pose was created by the famous Flemish-born sculptor Jean de Bologne, known as Giambologna (1529–1608). This attribution, unanimously accepted by scholars, is based on a reference to a silver copy loaned in 1601—as part of a collection of sculptures—by the Uffizi Gallery in Florence to Antonio Susini, a close collaborator of the official sculptor to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. The description of the piece housed at the Palazzo Venezia in Rome completes the history of this small bronze sculpture by suggesting that it is a reduced version of a statue created around 1574–1580 to adorn the gardens of Francesco I de’ Medici, where mythological and everyday subjects echoed one another in a play of forms that surprised visitors as they wandered through the groves. In 1609, an inventory of Benedetto Gondi’s Florentine collection described the model as “Un pastorino” and credited Giambologna as its creator. Upon Giambologna’s death in 1608, Antonio Susini, who had established his own workshop, popularized the subject by applying all his technical expertise to it. European archives from the early 17th century attest to the circulation of these small, exquisitely crafted bronzes outside of Italy (in the collections of Rudolf II of Prague and Henry, Prince of Wales). As this example demonstrates, enthusiasm for the subject persisted well into the following century, including in France. Our piece, featuring a very high-quality cast and masterful chiseling, bears the French hallmark—a “C” surmounted by a crown—which was applied to artistic bronzes between 1745 and 1749.
[ translate ]France, between 1745 and 1749, based on a model by Jean de Bologne, known as Giambologna (1529–1608), distributed by Antonio Susini (1572–1624) "Peasant Resting on His Staff" Bronze statuette with a brown patina Bears the “crowned C” hallmark on the back of the base Height: 13 cm On a blackened wooden pedestal; Height: 4 cm Provenance : * French private collection, then passed down through the family to the present day Expert: LACROIX JEANNEST, Ms. Élodie Jeannest de Gyvès Related works: -Jean Boulogne, known as Giambologna (1529–1608), Peasant Leaning on His Staff, ca. 1574–1580, bronze with a translucent brown patina, H. 13 cm, Rome, Museo Nazionale del Palazzo Venezia, inv. no. 10809; -Antonio Susini after a model by Giambologna, Peasant or Cowherd Leaning on His Staff, bronze, H. 12.7 cm, Quentin Collection, later sold at Christie’s New York on January 30, 2024, lot 15. Related literature: -A. Radcliffe and C. Avery, *Giambologna 1529–1608: Sculptor to the Medici*, Edinburgh and London, 1978, nos. 137–138. -M. Leithe-Jasper and P. Wengraf, *European Bronzes from the Quentin Collection*, New York, 2004, no. 13. -Pietro Cannata, *Museo nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia*. Vol. III. *Sculture in bronzo*, Gangemi Editore, Rome, 2011, no. 81, pp. 76–77. The model for this small bronze depicting a peasant leaning on a staff in a dynamic and graceful pose was created by the famous Flemish-born sculptor Jean de Bologne, known as Giambologna (1529–1608). This attribution, unanimously accepted by scholars, is based on a reference to a silver copy loaned in 1601—as part of a collection of sculptures—by the Uffizi Gallery in Florence to Antonio Susini, a close collaborator of the official sculptor to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. The description of the piece housed at the Palazzo Venezia in Rome completes the history of this small bronze sculpture by suggesting that it is a reduced version of a statue created around 1574–1580 to adorn the gardens of Francesco I de’ Medici, where mythological and everyday subjects echoed one another in a play of forms that surprised visitors as they wandered through the groves. In 1609, an inventory of Benedetto Gondi’s Florentine collection described the model as “Un pastorino” and credited Giambologna as its creator. Upon Giambologna’s death in 1608, Antonio Susini, who had established his own workshop, popularized the subject by applying all his technical expertise to it. European archives from the early 17th century attest to the circulation of these small, exquisitely crafted bronzes outside of Italy (in the collections of Rudolf II of Prague and Henry, Prince of Wales). As this example demonstrates, enthusiasm for the subject persisted well into the following century, including in France. Our piece, featuring a very high-quality cast and masterful chiseling, bears the French hallmark—a “C” surmounted by a crown—which was applied to artistic bronzes between 1745 and 1749.
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