Pair of 19th Cent. Grand Tour Gilt Bronze ‘Marly’ Horses on Marble after Coustou, French
This beautiful small pair of gilt bronze statues depict rearing stallions, being attended to by a male handler, wearing only a draped cloth around his waist. Both sit upon a green marble base.
This model of a horse restrained by a groom is known as the Marly Horses because they are after the famous 17th century Carrara marble sculptures by Guillaume Coustou (French, 1677 Lyon -1746 Paris), commissioned in 1739 for the horse pond in the gardens of the Chāteau de Marly. Coustou was probably inspired by the antique statues of the Dioscuri with their rearing horses in front of the Quirinal Palace in Rome, but above all drew inspiration from nature, studying the movements of men and horses from live models.
Since they were originally executed the horses were considered masterpieces and were spared the fate of the Chateau de Marly, which was destroyed during the French Revolution. In 1795, t
...hey were placed at the bottom of the Champs-Elysees. They were moved to the Musee du Louvre, Paris (M.R. 1802-3) and replaced by copies in the Place de la Concorde and at Marly. Soon after their execution, the Marly Horses were reinterpreted in various mediums, including patinated bronze. One such example can be found in the Royal Collection.
French, 19th Century
Condition. Good Original Condition
Dimensions: Overall: 18 Cms Width x 10 Cms Depth x 20 Cms Height
Judy Fox Antiques has been trading at No.81 Portobello Road since 1971. We deal in top quality Victorian and Edwardian furniture as well as decorative 19th century sculpture and objets d'art.
The majority of our extensive stock has been sympathetically restored and is, therefore, in showroom condition.
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We have a large international clientele, both private and trade, and export to all parts of the world, contact for any quotes. Internal Reference: JF 304
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1055254
Dateline of this antique is 19th Century
Height is 20cm (7.9inches)Width is 18cm (7.1inches)Depth is 10cm (3.9inches)
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