AFTER ANTONIN MERCIE (1845-1916): DAVID

AFTER ANTONIN MERCIE (1845-1916): DAVID a French bronze figure, Bardedienne Foundry, Paris, late 19th century, posed sheathing his sword, one foot resting on the head of Goliath, inscribed 'A. MERCIE', the circular base with strapwork border centred by a roundel titled ' דוד' for David in Hebrew, inscribed to rear 'F. BARBEDIENNE, Foundeur' and 'RÉDUCTION MECANIQUE A. COLLAS BREVETÉ' circular stamp, 61cm high Modelled in Rome in 1869, Mercié presented the life-size figure at the Paris Salon of 1872, the first Salon held since the tumult of the Paris Commune and the preceding disaster of the Franco-Prussian war. Widely admired for its elegance, the figure was also seen as a symbol of France’s hopes for vengeance on the Prussians. The bronze cast by Thiébaut Frères was acquired by the state, exhibited primarily at the Luxembourg Palace and now at the Musée d’Orsay (RF.186). The Barbedienne foundry produced a number of variously sized reductions, adding a loincloth not found on the original.