An exceptionally fine Carrara marble bust of Napoleon Bonaparte on an equally fine marble columnar pedestal, Circa 1810 in date.
The sculpture depicts a young Napoleon wearing his distinctive bicorne hat with cockade, his double-breasted cloak over his military uniform, his head is tilted slightly downward as if looking down from a horse, the head and shoulder statue raised on a stepped socle base, mounted on a Fume Emperador grey marble Doric columnar pedestal on a square marble plinth raised as per 18th C norm on a Trompe l''oeil square plinth base.
The height of the sculpture on its column is equivalent to Napoleon''s height 169 cm, 5 feet 6.5 inches.
Provenance:
Privately owned Belgrave Square residence, London.
Condition:
In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 109 cm x Width 35 cm x Depth 35 cm - Column
Height 60 cm x Width 41 cm x Depth 30 cm - Bust
Height 169 cm x Width 41 cm x Dep
...th 35 cm - Overall
Dimensions in inches:
Height 3 foot, 7 inches x Width 1 foot, 2 inches x Depth 1 foot, 2 inches - Column
Height 2 feet x Width 1 foot, 4 inches x Depth 1 foot - Bust
Height 5 foot, 6 inches x Width 1 foot, 4 inches x Depth 1 foot, 2 inches - Overall
Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)
later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French emperor and military commander who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led a series of military campaigns across Europe during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1796 to 1815
Trompe l''oeil (Faux Marble): The art of using paint to realistically simulate valuable marble on less expensive surfaces (like wood or plaster) has a long history, peaking in popularity during the Georgian, Regency, and Victorian periods. These are technically painted finishes rather than art on marble, but they are a significant part of antique ''painted marble'' history and are often found on architectural elements like fireplaces and columns.
Belgrave Square
Known to be one of the most prestigious addresses in the country, Belgrave Square has been famous since it’s development in the mid 19th century, commissioned by the 2nd Earl Grosvenor, late 1st Marquess of Westminster and contracted/built by Thomas Cubitt and George Basevi respectively.
Carrara marble - is a type of white or blue-grey marble popular for use in sculpture and building decor. It is quarried at the city of Carrara in the province of Massa-Carrara (Tuscany, Italy).
Carrara marble has been used since the time of Ancient Rome; the Pantheon and Trajan''s Column in Rome are constructed of it. Many sculptures of the Renaissance, such as Michelangelo''s David, were carved from Carrara marble. For Michelangelo at least, Carrara marble was valued above all other stone, except perhaps that of his own quarry in Pietrasanta. The Marble Arch in London and the Duomo di Siena are also made from this stone, as are the interiors of Manila Cathedral, the cold-white marbles of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the campus of Harvard Medical School.
Our reference: A4824a
Internal Reference: A4824a
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1181937
Dateline of this antique is 1800
Height is 16cm (6.3inches)Width is 41cm (16.1inches)Depth is 35cm (13.8inches)
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