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signed: J.L.GÉROME, inscribed: SIOT. Fondeur. Paris and stamped: 90F

gilt bronze, polychrome patina on veined green marble base with ormulu mounts

CATALOGUE NOTE

Celebrating Bonaparte's military victories as commander during the Egyptian Campaigns, Gérôme originally conceived this model in 1897, almost one hundred years after the actual events took place, demonstrating the extent to which Bonaparte and the Egyptomania style had seized the public interest. Napoléon himself had been quoted as saying, "If I were not a conquerer I would have liked to have been a sculptor."

When the original version was exhibited in the Paris Salon of 1897, Saint Marceaux wrote,'This delicate statuette is one of the best of Gérôme's works'. The original was bought by the French government for the Galerie du Luxembourg. Usually, purchased unique works were not reproduced, however Gérôme had already made an agreement with Siot-Decauville and so the bronze was cast in three sizes, at the original height of 83cm., the present size and a smaller cast at 36cm. Gérôme's interest in mixed materials and patinations led to the bronzes being produced, some with ivory heads, or as in the present example, with the details picked out in cold painted polychromy.

RELATED LITERATURE
Lami, p. 1919; Ackerman, p. 322; Humbert, pp.464-465