The Captivating Mystery of an Unknown Bronze by a Skilled Sculptor - Late 19th Early 20th Century

    

Several weeks ago I was wandering around the destitute halls of eBay USA when I happened upon a listing of an “unknown” bronze (unknown by the seller that is) which really peaked my interest. The asking price was ridiculously low and was in the “I stole that” category. The seller readily admitted that the bronze was completely outside his “expertise” and, by the manner in which the bronze was listed, readily confirmed that statement. The seller described the bronze as “Antique Metal” and the subject matter as “Cherub - Nude Greek Youth!” At the listed height of 22 inches I immediately knew that the asking price was definitely in the “I stole that” price range for an original bronze sculpture of that size. I programmed a bid and ended up taking the bronze for the opening low price. That’s well and good but what the heck did I just buy? I looked at the listed photographs and the wheels of my collector brain began to turn. First of all what I was looking at was definitely not a “Cherub” but was in my humble opinion a casting of “Cupid!”  From the way the arms were held something was missing from those hands! Cupid had a “bow” and that had to be what was missing from those hands! I could also tell that the bronze had to be an “after” of some unknown but accomplished European artist because there was a certain “unfinished” appearance to the bronze (obvious tool marks on the clay model that came through on the finished bronze) yet the detail was impressive. I immediately thought the bronze may possibly have been the project of an advanced in art “student.” Perhaps a copy made by some unknown aspiring artist at the University level (Boston came to mind) to produce that kind of overall detail. After all, the best way to learn how to do it is to copy the work of a master tradesman who has already

successfully "done it." The bronze came out of an “estate sale” in Vermont and my mind then went to the possibility of an early 20th Century copy of some possibly well know European artist. I asked myself..... who was the most prolific European Sculptor (leaning towards a French Sculptor) of the late 19th and Early 20th Century and of which prolific copies of that sculpture would have been sold to “cultured” households in New England in the late 19th Century?  No contest … it had to be a copy of a work by either Louis August Moreau (1834-1917) or his brother Malthurin Moreau (1822-1912).   A quick search online and there it was…. (minus the bow of course and the wings!) The title of the original August Moreau bronze Cupid is “Visi.” Since this copy of the “Moreau” bronze is unsigned, then it is definitely an “after,” but a worthy tribute to his original genius. I have also posted some close up photos of tool marks which have translated onto the finished bronze from what has to have been marks left on the original clay sculpture which was used in the “lost wax” casting process by a student. I must admit it is quite a lot of original bronze for not a lot of money! Art bargains are still out there if you pay attention and look carefully! Enjoy!

Here are pictures from the original listing:

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Tool marks as they appear on the bronze from the original clay model:

                                       

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The original inspiration: