A pair of mid 19th century Chevaux de Marly in bronze, each accurately modelled after the 1745 originals by Guillaume Coustou, and each depicting a rearing horse saddled ready for battle being restrained by a groom set on rocky ground, in the Antique style, each bearing the sculptor’s signature on the base, French, circa 1860.
The originals were commissioned in 1743 by Louis XV (1715 – 1774) for the gates to the Chateau de Marly from Guillaume Coustou, and the completed full size marble sculptures, finished in only two years, would be his last major works. They remained there until 1794 when they were moved to the newly named Place de la Concorde in Paris, then in 1984 the decision was made to move them to the Richelieu wing of the Louvre museum, where they stand in a former courtyard now called the ‘cour Marly’ in their honour. Bronze copies began to be made in the mid 19th century in various sizes, and are often found as singles where a pair has been split up.
Condition: Overall very good, each sculpture is in very good condition with no major damage, there are minimal losses to the reins which is consistent with age, one of the horses has a slightly loose tail and there are a couple of very small scuff on the surfaces, otherwise they are both in very good condition, they show extremely well and both have a pleasing colour and patination.
Dimensions:
Height: 38cm (15”)
Width: 32cm (12½”)
Depth: 15cm (6”)