FRENCH BRONZE Sculpture ~ LISTED ARTIST ~ 1910 Paris BAL Des QAT'Z'ARTS History

Description: An outstanding original bronze figure by French sculptor Louis Busson (1886-1917). The bronze and the artist who created it both have quite interesting stories. The sculpture was created as a mascot piece for the 1910 Bal des Qat'z' Arts, an annual event, known as a "riotous Saturnalia", that was organized by and for the students of the four branches of architecture, painting, sculpture, and engraving at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. A photo of this bronze will be included in the forthcoming book being published in Paris that documents the history of these artistic balls. This bronze beautifully conveys the spirit of joyous and riotous abandon that was the hallmark of these annual soirees. It stands 14 1/4 inches in height and is signed on the base and dated 1910, the front of the base is incised "4'Z Arts". It is documented that there are only three castings of the bronze in existence. The Story: Busson and his close friend, the noted illustrator Leo Fontan, were on the ball's managing committee. That year, the son of the Spanish ambassador crashed the ball and, once in, behaved quite obnoxiously. To teach him a lesson, Busson and Fontan had the miscreant stripped naked and tossed to the street, subsequently they were both arrested and brought before a magistrate. The judge, knowing the night had a tradition of wildness and excess, was lenient and dismissed the charges. Busson, to thank the judge for his clemency, had his maquette of the figure cast in bronze and presented; one to the judge, another to his lawyer and the last to his friend, Leo Fontan. The story is documented in the biography of Leo Fontan by Daniel Auliac: https://www.google.com/books/edition/L%C3%A9o_Fontan/GmzrXCQzddsC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=busson Louis Busson (1886-1917) was a French sculptor of exceptional promise. He studied under d'Injalbert and Eugene D'Hoest at the Ecole de Beaux Arts in Paris. At a very young age, he was commissioned by the French government to sculpt a stone portrait of General Lasalle as part of the facade decorations of the Louvre Museum in Paris. He died for France at the age of thirty-one as a soldier in the First World War. His obituary in the "Revue de l'Anjou" notes: "His submissions to the last Salons had been much noticed. Let us quote: his portraits of children "Under the Shower", bronze statue of a woman, of a penetrating charm, and a large bas-relief "Nymphs and Faune" where he was revealed a sculptor of pedigree, possessing all the resources of his art." The Bals de 4'Z'Arts were interesting events and can be read about here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bal_des_Quat%27z%27Arts extensive documentation here, in French: http://4zarts.org/

Price: 2250 USD

Location: Spring Hill, Florida

End Time: 2025-01-17T01:22:02.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD