Les Grands Faunes, une grande paire de candélabres figuratifs

Description

‘Les Grands Faunes’, A Large and Very Finely Cast Pair of Gilt-Bronze and Patinated Bronze Figural Candelabra On Green Granite Marble Bases, After A Model by François Rémond.

The candelabra are in the form of a patinated bronze faun and bacchante raised on green granite bases with spreading stiff leaf bands. The faun bears at his hip a gilt-bronze tambourine; at his feet is a thyrsus. A gilt-bronze ewer and pan pipes are set at the feet of the female bacchante, who also has a tambourine suspended from her belt. Each figure bears a gilt-bronze spiral-twisted cornucopia issuing fruited vines and candle arms terminating in foliate sconces.

Although traditionally attributed to Clodion, it is more likely that the original model for this pair of candelabra, which now reside in the Louvre, (inv. OA 5316-5317), was designed by François Rémond. A drawing showing an identical figure to the female bacchante attributed to François Rémond and dated 1785 survives in the Musée des Arts décoratifs (Paris). Examples of nineteenth century versions of this pair of candelabra can be found in the Ostankino palace in Moscow, the royal Palace in Madrid, Waddesdon Manor and Buckingham Palace.