An Unusual Patinated Bronze Sculptural Inkwell By Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (1827–1875).
Modelled as a fountain with pedestal surmounted by a bust of ‘Rieur napolitain’ (The Laughing Neapolitan boy) flanked by two climbing lobsters. The basin as a shollow dish with a frog spout the conforming inkwells decorated with lily pads and foliate lids, on turtle-cast feet.
Stamped ‘PROPRIETE CARPEAUX’ and with Imperial Eagle cachet.
France, Circa 1880.
Carpeaux’s bust entitled ‘Rieur napolitain’ was conceived in 1863 in conjunction with his studies at the Villa Medici and is one of the artist’s most recognizable works. subject of a lauging neopolitan boy was developed as a statue of a boy listening to a conch shell and also as a boy fishing. The present ‘encrier’ (inkwell) was conceived circa 1869-70 and plays on the aquatic theme with the lobsters and turtles representing the sea. Four bronze inkwells of this form appear in the ‘ventes Carpeaux’ from 1871-1874. This inkwell is one of the lifetime casts stamped ‘PROPRIETE CARPEAUX’ indicating it was cast by the Carpeaux family and not one of the later casts produced by Susse Freres in 1910 and 1912.
M. Poletti and A. Richarme, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux sculpteur: Catalogue raisonné de l’oeuvre édité, Paris, 2003, p. 174, no. AN. OD
By appointment only.
