 |
RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
 |
|
|
RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
|
|
A very fine pair of Louis XVI gilt bronze two-light wall-lights attributed to Jean-Louis Prieur, each with a swagged flaming urn finial above two foliate branches with fluted drip-pans and sockets, the fluted tapering shaft with laurel swags and foliate boss Paris, date circa 1770 Height 45 cm, width 28.5 cm. each. Literature: Hans Ottomeyer and Peter Pröschel, “Vergoldete Bronzen”, 1986, p.173, pl. 3.5.6, illustrating an identical wall-light by Jean-Louis Prieur of circa 1770 in the Württembergisches Landesmuseum, Stuttgart. Typical of the work of Jean-Louis Prieur (b. 1732-6 d. 1795), these fine wall-lights are in addition to those cited above identical to a pair at Stockholm Castle. A variation with three lights designed by Prieur can be found at the J. Paul Getty Museum, California as well as Stockholm Castle (illustrated ibid. p. 172, pl. 3.5.4.) Prieur was one of the leading exponents of the Neo-classical style, working as a sculptor, bronze castor and chaser, designer and engraver. Like the slightly younger, celebrated bronzier, Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843), Prieur initially studied sculpture at the Académie de Saint-Luc, Paris, 1765. It was not until 1769 that Prieur was received as a maître fondeur-ciseleur, possibly having been trained under his cousin, Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain (1719-91). In 1766 he collaborated with Philippe (1714-74) and Victor-Louis (1731-1802) Caffiéri in the decoration of the Royal Castle at Warsaw where he provided designs for furniture and objects, some of which he executed himself. He also worked with Victor-Louis on the redecoration of Chartres Cathedral choir. 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. Despite having built up an illustrious repute and clientele to match, in 1778 Prieur suffered severe financial difficulties due to mishandling of funds. He was therefore forced to move to the Enclos du Temple, Paris were he continued to operate as a caster but on a much smaller scale. During the 1780’s Prieur 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’. |