Aimé-Jules DALOU (1838 - 1902) - LION DU PONT ALEXANDRE III

Aimé-Jules DALOU ( 1838 - 1902 )

LION DU PONT ALEXANDRE III

(Sketch, child with a garland (1898))
Group on an architectural base (Paris-left bank)
Bronze, red brown patina
H : 23,6 cm, L : 18,7 cm, D : 9,2 cm
Model for the edition signed «Dalou», cast and edited by «A.A. Hébrard Cire Perdue», inscribed «M» for model, (wax restorations on few parts).
Circa 1910

Museum reference :
Paris, Petit Palais, wax and plaster, inv. PPS265.

Groupe sur base architecturale (Paris-Rive Gauche, amont)
Bronze à patine brun rouge richement soutenu.
Haut : 23,6 cm, Long : 18,7 cm, Prof : 9,2 cm
Épreuve authentique signée "Dalou", fondue et éditée par "A.A. Hébrard Cire Perdue", précisée "M" pour modèle, (restaurations partielles à la cire).
Circa 1910

Référence Muséale :
Paris, Petit Palais, cire et plâtre, inv. PPS265.

Literature Detailed Description

About the model :

SIMIER Amélie (dir.), "Lions du Pont Alexandre III" in Jules Dalou, le sculpteur de la République. Catalogue des sculptures de Jules Dalou conservées au Petit Palais, catalogue d’exposition (Paris, Petit Palais, 2023), Paris, Paris Musées, 2013, pp. 176 - 178.

About the founder :

LEBON Elisabeth, "Hébrard" in Dictionnaire des fondeurs de bronze d’art : France 1890-1950. Perth, Marjon Editions, 2003, pp. 182-188

The Pont Alexandre III, celebrating the union of the French and Russian nations, was designed for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. Dalou was commissioned to create two allegorical beasts in 1898, to decorate the piles on the left bank, alongside Georges Gardet who received the lions from the right bank. It was specified in the commission contracts that lions must be in the taste of Louis XIV, a pivotal period in Franco-Russian relations, with the Golden Age of Peter the Great. The lions, which represent imperial power, are crowned by putti with laurel garlands of Fame.

Our sketch corresponds to an intermediate step of the group installed on its architectural pedestal for a final rendering, with coat of arms on the front part. The bronze was cast from the wax sketch kept at the Petit Palais. Some details, especially in the mane and garland were restored with brown tinted wax. This is the only example of this version group with pedestal in bronze currently identified.

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