Marius Jean Antonin Mercié (France, 1845-1916): A patinated and parcel gilt bronze figure of 'Gloria Victis (Glory to the Vanquished' on later ebonised plinth and polished walnut plinth (2)
Marius Jean Antonin Mercié (France, 1845-1916): A patinated and parcel gilt bronze figure of 'Gloria Victis (Glory to the Vanquished'
on later ebonised plinth and polished walnut plinththe winged allegorical figure of Fame or Hope holding aloft a dying French hero, his broken sword a sign of defeat, the base inscribed 'Gloria Victis' signed A. Mercié, inscribed F. Barbedienne Fondeur Paris and with Collas réduction mécanique pastille, numbered 609, dark brown patina, the ebonised plinth of circular form, the pedestal of fluted column form, 68.5cm high, the plinth 109cm high (2)
注脚
Mercié created his figure of 'Gloria Victis' following France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War intending to honor the French soldiers who had fallen in the conflict, especially his friend, the artist Henri Regnault (1843–1871). The plaster of the model was exhibited at the Salon in 1874 and was a great success. Showing the heroism and patriotic feelings after the disaster of the French defeat in 1870 Mercié is said to have changed the hero's head from lifted to fallen on hearing the news of the vanquishment.However despite its acclaim, the work was harshly criticized by Mercié's fellow French sculptor Jean Baffier for its neoclassical style and for its celebration of a defeat.Nevertheless numerous bronze copies were cast in different sizes by the renowned Ferdinand Barbedienne foundry.