Lot 66: CHARLOTTE GABRIELLE BESNARD, NEÉ DUBRAY FRENCH, 1855 - 1930 A NEAPOLITAN YOUTH

signed and dated: M^lle Charlotte Dubray Sculp. 1875 and inscribed Boyer & Roland Fondeurs

bronze, dark brown patina

CATALOGUE NOTE

Together with her sister Eugénie-Giovanna, Charlotte-Gabrielle Besnard, née Dubray was taught sculpture by her father, the celebrated Gabriel-Vital Dubray. She first exhibited at the Salon in 1874 with her marble bust of Jeune Fille: fellah du Caire and was later awarded a silver medal in 1900. In 1875, the date on the present bust, Charlotte was in Rome, and she probably worked on her Neapolitan model at this time. It was exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1876.

It was in Rome that Dubray met her husband, the painter Albert Besnard, who was director of the French Academy in Rome. She subsequently moved to London and exhibited a series of portrait busts at the RA from 1875-1878, working for such patrons as the Duke of Sutherland. She also exhibited at the Société des Beaux Arts where she was a sociétaire.

RELATED LITERATURE
Benezit vol.2, p.242; Lami vol.2, p.226; Graves vol.2, p.380

70cm., 27 1/2 in.