Object Description
Very large patinated bronze sculpture of Louis XIV after Girardon
French, 19th Century
Height 109cm, width 87cm, depth 53cm
This very large sculpture depicts the famous King Louis XIV atop a horse. It is after a sculpture by the French sculptor Francois Girardon (1628-1715) which was unveiled on 13 August 1699 in the Place Louis le Grand (now known as Place Vendôme).
The present example is of outstanding quality, the cast depicting the finest of details such as the horse’s anatomy or the King’s facial expressions. The draping clothing is beautifully crafted with the many folds and creases adding to the trompe l’oil effect. The saddle as well as parts of the French monarch’s clothing bears several patterns, all very noticeable due to the superb finish of the bronze.
Kind Louis XIV with his horse stands atop a rectangular bronze plinth that features a scrolling cartouche with the depiction of Medusa. The base is signed ‘Girardon. / 1680’. A later, large painted wood plinth supports the French antique.
After a sculpture by a renowned artist, this antique is a magnificent addition to the collection of anyone interested in French decorative arts and horses.