Lot 45: Augustin-Jean Moreau-Vauthier , French 1831 -1893 La Fortune (an allegory of Fortune) bronze, dark brown, mid brown and red brown patina

signed: MOREAU-VAUTHIER inscribed: F. BARBEDIENNE, Fondeur. Paris and C28 and with the RÉDUCTION MÉCANIQUE A.COLLAS BREVETÉ pastille, incised twice GG and inscribed 62329 una in black ink on the underside bronze, dark brown, mid brown and red brown patina

measurements note 64cm., 25¼in.

Augustin-Jean Moreau-Vauthier began his career as an ivory carver but went on to study sculpture at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts from 1850 under Armand Toussaint. Highly successful Salon exhibits followed and he was made a professor at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in 1885. A number of his works were purchased by the State including a version of his Fortune.

La Fortune is perhaps the most immediately recognisable of Moreau-Vauthier's figures. Owing to its immense popularity it was cast in edition, and in various sizes. The model was first exhibited in plaster at the Salon of 1878 and in bronze the following year when it was purchased by the state. The Salon bronze is now in the collection of the Musée de Rennes. A version in marble was shown at the Exposition Universelle of 1889.

The present cast is a rare version with the inclusion of a base in the form of a globe supported by two winged putti. In the delicate small size the elegance and balance of the allegorical figure is particularly remarkable. This fine cast has a warm, translucent patina and a refined treatment of detail as the diaphanous layers of drapery billow across the body in graceful folds.

RELATED LITERATURE
Bénézit, vol. 9, p. 831; Lami, vol. iii, pp. 484 - 488