The Passion of Collecting Academic Nudes

Join me as we explore my collection of Academic Nudes from the 18th, 19th, and Early 20th Centuries and serendipitous finds in the Museum, Art Auction, and Gallery world......examples from the Golden Age of the European Academie


Friday, February 1, 2013

Alfred Boucher (1850-1934): Au But (To The Goal) - Bronze ca. 1905

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  Portrait of the Artist (above)
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I finally got the editor for this blog working properly on the Windows based PC where I store all my images and as I was browsing the remainder of images I have for January I ran across a photograph of Alfred Boucher's sculpture "Au But." A seller in Monaco had it listed in the off eBay "small sales" section of eBay France and I contacted him regarding the work. Unfortunately, I thought the conditions he imposed were taking me somewhere with my money that I didn't want to go, so I passed on the buy. Other than a copy of his passport there were no guarantees shipment would actually happen. I dare say I try my best to minimize risk in buying but I will not walk into a buy with no guarantees at all. He did send this nice illustration of the bronze he had and I thought I would post it. This is probably one of my favorite works featuring the male form.

Alfred Boucher (1850-1934) studied under the sculptor Joseph Marius Ramus. He took the Grand Prix du Salon in 1881. He eventually settled in Florence, Italy and became the favorite of royals. Philanthropic and generous he later founded the studio La Ruche in Montparnassee in 1902 to help struggling young artists. He earned the Grand Prix de Sculpture de l'Exposition Universelle in 1900.
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Au but (To The Goal)..1905