81 - Henri Chapu (1833-1891)

Henri Chapu (1833-1891) La Jeunesse Model created circa 1875; published by Barbedienne from 1878 Bronze with light brown patina Signed "h. Chapu Bears the founder's mark "F. BARBEDIENNE, Fondeur. Paris", stamped "REDUCTION MECANIQUE A. COLLAS" and the number "773". H. 95 cm Greenish-grey in places In 1872, Henri Chapu was commissioned to design a monument commemorating the memory of the painter Henri Regnault, who died in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. He presented the model for this monument at the 1875 Salon, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. On August 12, 1876, the monument was unveiled in the courtyard of the mulberry tree at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In 1878, the foundry Barbedienne isolated the female figure from the monument and produced it in three dimensions. Related works -Henri Chapu, Monument à Henri Regnault et aux élèves de l'Ecole des Beaux-Arts tués en 1870-1871, marble, Paris, Ecole nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, cour du mûrier ; -Henri Chapu, La Jeunesse, 1875, gum-lacquered plaster sketch, H. 55.4 x W. 21.4 x D. 14.3 cm, Paris, Musée d'Orsay, inv. RF 1785; -Henri Chapu, La Jeunesse, 1875, bronze statue, gilded highlights, Barbedienne cast, H. 59.3 x W. 17.4 x D. 16.5 cm, Paris, Musée d'Orsay, inv. ChB 211. Related literature -Florence Rionnet, Les bronzes Barbedienne, l'œuvre d'une dynastie de fondeurs (1834-1954), Paris, Arthena, 2016, model listed under n°Cat. 529, p. 287 and illustrated p. 181.