Object Description
A pair of fine quality late 19th century (circa 1900) bronze Marly horses each with his groom, after Guillaume Coustou The Elder.
The Marly horses are both depicted in a rearing pose held by their grooms and supported on a naturalistic base.
The original pair of horses were commissioned by King Louis XV, carved from Carrara marble and made for the Chateau de Marly between 1740-1745, they were then moved to the entrance of the Champs Elysees after The Revolution in 1794.
In 1984 it was decided they were becoming damaged so the original sculptures were moved to a former courtyard in the Richelieu wing of the Louvre Museum, this was renamed the ‘Cour Marly’ in their honour, the original sculptures were then replaced with marble copies produced by Michel Bourbon.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries bronze reductions of these figures were very popular in households.
This pair of bronzes are in very good condition for age and can go straight into a home or collection.
Sizes – one is slightly larger than the other, the measurements below are of the larger bronze:
Height: 19.75” / 50cm
Width: 15.5” / 39.5cm
Depth: 8.5” / 21.5cm