 |
RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
 |
|
|
RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
|
|
A very fine pair of Louis XVI gilt bronze three-light wall-lights attributed to Jean-Louis Prieur, each with a swagged flaming urn finial above three foliate-wrapped branches terminating in fluted drip-pans and vase-shaped sockets, the fluted tapering shaft with laurel swags terminated by a foliate boss Paris, date circa 1770-75 Height 59 cm, width 35 cm. each. Literature: Hans Ottomeyer and Peter Pröschel, “Vergoldete Bronzen”, 1986, p. 173, pl. 3.5.6, illustrating one of a very similar pair of two-light wall-lights by Jean-Louis Prieur, circa 1770 in the Württembergisches Landesmuseum, Stuttgart. Wall-lights such as this fine pair provided the main source of light during eighteenth century and were often placed either side of a mirror so as to reflect the candlelight. These wall-lights are very similar in style and decoration to those in the Württembergisches Landesmuseum as well as another pair by Jean-Louis Prieur (b. 1725 d. after 1785) of a similar date in Stockholm Castle. There are also a set of six similar three-light wall-lights with more abundant flames and slightly differing ornamentation in the J. P. Getty Museum, California dating from circa 1775 (illustrated, ibid. p. 172, pl. 3.5.4). The latter being by an unknown bronzier but cited as being after a design attributed to Prieur. Lights similar to those in the Getty Museum appear in a watercolour drawing of the grand salon in the Château de Chantilly, Paris, home of the prince de Condé. Prieur was one of the leading exponents of the Neo-classical style who worked as a sculptor, bronze castor and chaser, designer and engraver. Like the slightly younger and celebrated bronzier, Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843), Prieur initially studied sculpture at the Académie de Saint-Luc, Paris, 1765. His earliest work dates to the following year when he collaborated with Philippe Caffiéri (1714-74) and the architect and designer Victor Louis (1731-1802) in the decoration of the Royal Castle at Warsaw. Prieur produced a series of designs for wall-lights and chandeliers as well as for furniture, clocks, vases, and other furnishings, some of which he executed himself. He also later worked with Victor Louis on the redecoration of Chartres Cathedral choir. It was only in 1769 that he was received as a maître fondeur-ciseleur, possibly having been trained under his cousin, Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain (1719-91). His earlier work for the Polish royal family was to further his career back home since Louis XV’s wife was a Polish princess. For instance Prieur executed a number of important bronze clock cases, notably one of 1770 made on the occasion of the marriage of the Dauphin (later Louis XVI) to Marie-Antoinette, featuring ‘Peace and Abundance’ (Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg) after a drawing by François Boucher. Later when Louis XVI was crowned King of France, Prieur produced bronze ornaments for his coronation coach. In 1776 he supplied bronzes for two mantelpieces designed by Claude Billard de Belisard (fl. 1722-90) for the Palais-Bourbon in Paris. Yet despite numerous and important commissions in 1778 Prieur suffered severe financial difficulties due to mishandling of funds. He was therefore forced to move to the Enclos du Temple, Paris where he continued to operate as a caster but on a much smaller scale and eventually died in poverty. During the 1780’s he published a number of engravings of ornamental designs, producing seven books featuring designs for furniture, vases and arabesques. He also published six plates of scrolling foliate friezes entitled ‘Principes de Dessin’ and in addition executed a number of wallpaper designs for Jean-Baptiste Réveillon’s factory. His son, Jean-Louis Prieur II (1759-95), who was also an artist, was a member of Revolutionary Tribunal whose main opus was a series of nearly 70 drawings, which were subsequently engraved and illustrated in the ‘Tableaux Historiques de la Révolution Française’. |