Inaugural Fine and Decorative Arts Sale
Lot 150:
Description
Tall bronze sculpture by Mathurin Moreau, French. A large model of a rural young farmer resting against a rocky outcrop to sharpen his scythe, the base of which has been set in the hay collected in a pile beside the rock; the naturalistic base is signed along the back in his typical nearly cursive script "Math. Moreau".
It is a complex model and a fine accomplishment for the foundry, the joints seamlessly flowing into one another without any obvious connections. The surface is chiseled with great care, resulting in fine detailing of the toes and fingers to include the wrinkles at each joint and texturing of the nails, crisp eyelids and flawless skin, gorgeous texturing of the garment and incising of the hair. It retains a rather striking reddish-brown overall patina in the garment, a somewhat lower saturation brown applied to the naturalistic elements and a burnished bronze that has naturally darkened in the exposed flesh.
31 3/4" H x 13" base diameter
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Condition: Some wear around edges of the base, including a larger spot of patina loss along lower edge. Minor scuffing to the naturalistic elements of the base. Some scratches to the arch of his outer foot. Light handling wear throughout, overall remaining in excellent original condition.
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Dimensions: 31.75 x 13 x 13 in
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