310 - Joseph-Marius RAMUS (1805–1888)

Joseph-Marius RAMUS (1805–1888) Portrait of Jean-Olympie Bouquet, known as Olympe Besson (1799–1896), Prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône Marble bust. Signed on the right side “Marius Ramus.” Height: 69 cm – Width: 49 cm – Depth: 26 cm (In good overall condition) Provenance: – Exhibited at the 1859 Salon, Paris, Palais des Champs-Élysées, under no. 3457: Portrait of Mr. Besson, Prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône; bust, marble. Bibliography: – 1859 Salon catalog, Explanation of the works of painting, sculpture, engraving, lithography, and architecture by living artists exhibited at the Palais des Champs-Élysées on April 15, 1859, Paris, Charles de Mourgues frères, 1859, no. 3457. Description: This bust depicts Jean-Olympie Bouquet, known as Olympe Besson, a high-ranking official of the Second Empire who served successively as prefect of several departments before being appointed prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône in 1857, a position he held until 1860. Sculpted while Besson was serving in Marseille, this portrait was presented by Ramus at the 1859 Salon under number 3457, with the title *Portrait of Mr. Besson, Prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhône*; bust, marble. It thus serves as an interesting example of official portraiture during the Second Empire. A student of Jean-Pierre Cortot at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and winner of the Second Prize of Rome in 1830, Joseph-Marius Ramus had a distinguished career as an official sculptor, marked in particular by numerous portraits and public monuments. A protégé of Adolphe Thiers, he was named a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1852.