Lot 82: Ernest Eugene Hiolle (French, 1834-1886): A set of four bronze portrait busts of English literary figures

comprising Shakespeare, Milton, Byron and Scott, each on waisted circular socle and inscribed to the rear W. Shakepeare, Milton, Lord Byron, and Sir Walter Scott, and signed E. hiolle. 2me PRIX, dark brown patination, raised on rouge marble waisted plinth bases, 28cm high (4)

Born in Paris, Hiolle studied under Jouffroy and Granfils and was runner up in the Prix de Rome of 1856. He finally won the award in 1863 and was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1873. Exhibiting at the Salon from 1866 he won medals from 1867 until 1870 and also won a medal of honour at the Exposition Universelle in 1878. Hiolle specialised in classical and allegorical figures in plaster and bronze and produced many contemporary portrait busts throughout his life.