Christopher Fratin (1 January 1801 – 16 August 1864), also known as Christophe Fratin, was a noted French sculptor in the animalier style, and one of the earliest French sculptors to portray animals in bronze.[1]
Eagles and Prey by Fratin, Central Park, New York City
He exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1831 to 1842 and 1850–1862, as well as at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. Fratin never signed his bronzes but instead used a stamp showing his last name in straight block letters. One of the stamps he used (pictured) showed the "n" reversed, not by design but due to an error on the part of the maker of the stamp. Bronzes bearing this stamp have the appearance of not seeming to be genuine when in reality they are.[1]
Fratin received monumental commissions in France and elsewhere, including the Deux Aigles Gardant Leur Proie (Eagles and Prey, created 1850) displayed since 1863 in New York City's Central Park. Many of his small bronzes—including his miniature bronzes which were more affordable due to their smaller size—were sold commercially to the general public during his lifetime. Today, Fratin's sculpture is on permanent display in the Louvre, the city museums of Metz, Lyon, Strasbourg, Nîmes and at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. The Georg Eisler archive in Vienna also has on display works by Fratin.
A number of Fratin's pieces portray horses, especially portraits of famous horses such as Fermer, cheval anglais pur-sang, a wax of which he debuted at the Salon of 1831, the same exhibition in which Barye's Tigre dévorant un gavial was featured.[1]
At Montrouge Square in Paris appears a colossal bronze group standing 2 meters high entitled Cheval attaqué par un lion, executed in 1852. Fratin received many commissions from the State including groups designed for the botanical garden and the esplanade of his hometown; amongst the groups were two dogs, a deer at bay, a purebred horse, and some eagles. He also produced a number of whimsical bear sculptures, one being Ours jouant de la cornemuse which shows a bear holding a musical instrument.[1]
A miniature bronze of a rooster by Fratin, c. 1840
Reversed "N" stamp used by Fratin
Referencesedit
^ abcdefKjellberg, Pierre (1994). Bronzes of the 19th Century. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. p. 495. ISBN0-88740-629-7.
Bibliographyedit
Michel Poletti, Alain Richarme, Fratin : objets décoratifs & sculptures romantiques, Paris : Univers du bronze sculptures XIXe & XXe, 2000. ISBN2-9507001-2-8.
Jane Horswell, Les Animaliers, 1971.
James Mackay, The Animaliers, 1973.
Christopher Payne, Animals in Bronze, 1986.
Pierre Kjellberg, Bronzes of the 19th Century, 1994.
George Savage, A Concise History of Bronzes, 1968.
E. Benezit, Dictionnaire des Peintres et Sculpteurs, 1966.
Stanaslas Lami, Dictionnaire de Sculpteurs de l'ecole Francaise, 1914.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Christophe Fratin.
Bronze Gallery: Christophe Fratin
in American public collections, on the French Sculpture Census website
October 30, 2023
christopher, fratin, january, 1801, august, 1864, also, known, christophe, fratin, noted, french, sculptor, animalier, style, earliest, french, sculptors, portray, animals, bronze, christophe, fratina, lithograph, fratin, with, lion, fighting, snakeborn, 1801,. Christopher Fratin 1 January 1801 16 August 1864 also known as Christophe Fratin was a noted French sculptor in the animalier style and one of the earliest French sculptors to portray animals in bronze 1 Christophe FratinA lithograph of Fratin with Lion Fighting a SnakeBornChristopher Fratin 1801 01 01 1 January 1801Metz Moselle FranceDied16 August 1864 1864 08 16 aged 63 Le Raincy Seine Saint Denis FranceNationalityFrenchKnown forSculptureNotable workEagles and Prey in Central Park NYC MovementAnimalier Contents 1 Early life 2 Work 3 Death and legacy 4 Photo gallery 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksEarly life editFratin was born in Metz Moselle France the son of a taxidermist He first studied drawing under Pioche in Metz and later worked in Paris at the studio of Theodore Gericault 1 Work edit nbsp Eagles and Prey by Fratin Central Park New York CityHe exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1831 to 1842 and 1850 1862 as well as at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851 Fratin never signed his bronzes but instead used a stamp showing his last name in straight block letters One of the stamps he used pictured showed the n reversed not by design but due to an error on the part of the maker of the stamp Bronzes bearing this stamp have the appearance of not seeming to be genuine when in reality they are 1 Fratin received monumental commissions in France and elsewhere including the Deux Aigles Gardant Leur Proie Eagles and Prey created 1850 displayed since 1863 in New York City s Central Park Many of his small bronzes including his miniature bronzes which were more affordable due to their smaller size were sold commercially to the general public during his lifetime Today Fratin s sculpture is on permanent display in the Louvre the city museums of Metz Lyon Strasbourg Nimes and at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore Maryland The Georg Eisler archive in Vienna also has on display works by Fratin A number of Fratin s pieces portray horses especially portraits of famous horses such as Fermer cheval anglais pur sang a wax of which he debuted at the Salon of 1831 the same exhibition in which Barye s Tigre devorant un gavial was featured 1 At Montrouge Square in Paris appears a colossal bronze group standing 2 meters high entitled Cheval attaque par un lion executed in 1852 Fratin received many commissions from the State including groups designed for the botanical garden and the esplanade of his hometown amongst the groups were two dogs a deer at bay a purebred horse and some eagles He also produced a number of whimsical bear sculptures one being Ours jouant de la cornemuse which shows a bear holding a musical instrument 1 Death and legacy editFratin died on 17 August 1864 at Le Raincy Seine Saint Denis 1 and is buried in Montmartre Cemetery He is honored in Metz where a street is named after him Photo gallery edit nbsp Monumental Horse c 1850 in Metz France nbsp A miniature bronze of a goat by Fratin c 1840 nbsp A miniature bronze of a rooster by Fratin c 1840 nbsp Reversed N stamp used by FratinReferences edit a b c d e f Kjellberg Pierre 1994 Bronzes of the 19th Century Atglen Pennsylvania Schiffer Publishing Ltd p 495 ISBN 0 88740 629 7 Bibliography editMichel Poletti Alain Richarme Fratin objets decoratifs amp sculptures romantiques Paris Univers du bronze sculptures XIXe amp XXe 2000 ISBN 2 9507001 2 8 Jane Horswell Les Animaliers 1971 James Mackay The Animaliers 1973 Christopher Payne Animals in Bronze 1986 Pierre Kjellberg Bronzes of the 19th Century 1994 George Savage A Concise History of Bronzes 1968 E Benezit Dictionnaire des Peintres et Sculpteurs 1966 Stanaslas Lami Dictionnaire de Sculpteurs de l ecole Francaise 1914 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Christophe Fratin Bronze Gallery Christophe Fratin Central Park Conservancy Eagles and Prey Christopher Fratin in American public collections on the French Sculpture Census website nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Christopher Fratin amp oldid 1152721919, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
