Paul-Édouard Delabrièrre (29 March 1829 – 1912) was a French animalier sculptor who worked in the mid-to-late 19th century and the early 20th century. He had 70 of his sculptures juried into the prestigious Salon art exhibition held annually in Paris. His monumental work called L'Equitation adorns the facade of the Louvre.
Delabrièrre was born in Paris, France, on 29 March 1829, the son of Louis Henri Delabrièrre and Marie Zoe Delabrièrre (née Chaffard).[2] He first studied painting under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Delestre but ultimately became a sculptor instead.[3] Little is known of Delabrièrre's life besides the work he left behind which exist in bronze, plaster, wax, and terra cotta.[4]
On 20 June 1868 he was married to Anne-Eugénie Alléon who had been twice widowed when her first two husbands, Émile Rubantel (a designer) and Claude Martin (a pawn broker), both died. She died 23 April 1878 in Paris.[2][5]
Careeredit
A sand cast bronze sculpture by Delabrièrre of a crop-tailed Staffordshire bull terrier proudly holding a rat in its mouth (c. 1859)A miniature cabinet bronze sculpture of a deer by Delabrièrre (c. 1864)
Delabrièrre was an important member of the animalier school who exhibited at the Salon from 1848 through 1882. His first two exhibits were typical of the style of his work throughout his career. He submitted Greyhound Holding a Hare and Wounded Deer. Most of his oeuvre were comparatively small models, however his larger pieces often incorporated figures. His work varies in style and quality with some models directly influenced by Antoine-Louis Barye who was the father of the animalier school.[6]
Delabrièrre's more popular realist bronzes were of impeccable quality and place him in the top echelon of his school. The facade of the Louvre incorporates one of his largest groups, the monumentalL 'Equitation, which depicts a horse and two putti, one of whom is aboard the horse.[1] It was completed by Delabrièrre in 1857 and installed that same year. In the final two years of his exhibiting career Delabrièrre experimented with iron as a worthy material for the Salon, although that idea did not go over well with collectors who were accustomed to bronzes. The works that were done in cast iron were produced by the art foundry Durenne Val Osne under the direction of Pierre Louis Rouillard. A list of Delabrièrre's 70 works presented at the Salon can be found in the Dictionnaire des Sculpteurs by Stanislas Lami.[6]
Versatility was one of Delabrièrre's strengths. The range of animals he sculpted covers nearly every large mammal to be found in continental Europe. He also did a few lion and panther sculptures during his career, as well as some camel and bird pieces, but his favorite subjects seemed to be dogs and big cats. He exhibited his Javanese panther in plaster at the 1857 Salon as well as Tigre du Bengale at the 1865 Salon.[6] His repertoire also included some pieces executed in the orientalist genre. Delabrièrre used both the sand casting method and the lost wax method to create his sculptures.
As early as December 1869 his sculptures had begun to be imported to the United States by the Philadelphia jewelry firm of J. E. Caldwell & Co. who had a store at 902 Chesnut Street. The store also advertised works by Jean-Louis Grégoire, Carrier, Moigniez, Mêne, and others.[7] Delabrièrre portrayed realism in nearly all his sculptures. His circa 1870 bronze of a dog defecating took realism to an extreme level and was unusual if not outright strange. The subject matter was likely detrimental to the sales of the sculpture;[6] however, it did possess certain qualities as a conversation piece. Bronzes by Delabrièrre and fellow animalier and countryman Jules Moigniez were popular in Britain and the United States in the late 19th century.
Selected Salon entriesedit
An odd bronze by Delabrièrre showing a dog defecating (c. 1870) (Note: This sculpture was not a Salon entry.)
Some examples of Delabrièrre's work are displayed at the Musée de Picardie in Amiens, France. Included in the Amiens collection is his Panthére de l'Inde Dévourant un Héron (1858) that would later be a Salon entry in 1861.[4]
Although his full name was Paul-Édouard Delabrièrre, he almost always signed his sculptures as "E. Delabrierre" in block or semi-block type letters. Occasionally he signed as simply "Delabrièrre" as in the case of a two-humped camel bronze he completed in 1849.[6] The "R" that he used in his signature did not always feature as sharp a curve to the left as shown in signature example No. 1 (above left).[3]
Death and legacyedit
Delabrièrre died in 1912 and is remembered as an important member of the animalier school.[3][4][6] His monumental work L'Equitation can be found on the facade of the Louvre.[1][4]
Referencesedit
^ abc"L'Equitation". musee-orsay.fr. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
^ ab"Anne Eugenie Alleon". gw.geneanet.org. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
^ abcdBerman, Harold (1974). Bronzes, Sculptors & Founders – Signatures (Vol. 2 ed.). Chicago, Illinois: Abage Publishers. p. 475.
^ abcdeKjellberg, Pierre (1994). Bronzes of the 19th Century (First ed.). Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. p. 278. ISBN0-88740-629-7.
^"Delabrierre (Paul-Edouard)". bnf.fr. 1897. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
^ abcdefPayne, Christopher (1986). Animals in Bronze – Reference and Price Guide. Woodbridge, Suffolk, England: Antique Collectors' Club Ltd. p. 401. ISBN0-90746-245-6.
^"Holiday Goods: Bronzes!". The Evening Telegraph. Philadelphia, PA. 20 December 1869. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
April 11, 2024
paul, edouard, delabrierre, paul, Édouard, delabrièrre, march, 1829, 1912, french, animalier, sculptor, worked, late, 19th, century, early, 20th, century, sculptures, juried, into, prestigious, salon, exhibition, held, annually, paris, monumental, work, called. Paul Edouard Delabrierre 29 March 1829 1912 was a French animalier sculptor who worked in the mid to late 19th century and the early 20th century He had 70 of his sculptures juried into the prestigious Salon art exhibition held annually in Paris His monumental work called L Equitation adorns the facade of the Louvre Paul Edouard DelabrierreBorn 1829 03 29 29 March 1829Paris FranceDied1912 aged 82 83 Paris FranceNationalityFrenchKnown forSculptureNotable workL Equitation 1 MovementAnimalier schoolSpouseAnne Eugenie Alleon m 1868 died 1878 wbr Patron s Louvre Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Selected Salon entries 4 Museums 5 Signature examples 6 Death and legacy 7 ReferencesEarly life editDelabrierre was born in Paris France on 29 March 1829 the son of Louis Henri Delabrierre and Marie Zoe Delabrierre nee Chaffard 2 He first studied painting under the direction of Jean Baptiste Delestre but ultimately became a sculptor instead 3 Little is known of Delabrierre s life besides the work he left behind which exist in bronze plaster wax and terra cotta 4 On 20 June 1868 he was married to Anne Eugenie Alleon who had been twice widowed when her first two husbands Emile Rubantel a designer and Claude Martin a pawn broker both died She died 23 April 1878 in Paris 2 5 Career edit nbsp A sand cast bronze sculpture by Delabrierre of a crop tailed Staffordshire bull terrier proudly holding a rat in its mouth c 1859 nbsp A miniature cabinet bronze sculpture of a deer by Delabrierre c 1864 Delabrierre was an important member of the animalier school who exhibited at the Salon from 1848 through 1882 His first two exhibits were typical of the style of his work throughout his career He submitted Greyhound Holding a Hare and Wounded Deer Most of his oeuvre were comparatively small models however his larger pieces often incorporated figures His work varies in style and quality with some models directly influenced by Antoine Louis Barye who was the father of the animalier school 6 Delabrierre s more popular realist bronzes were of impeccable quality and place him in the top echelon of his school The facade of the Louvre incorporates one of his largest groups the monumental L Equitation which depicts a horse and two putti one of whom is aboard the horse 1 It was completed by Delabrierre in 1857 and installed that same year In the final two years of his exhibiting career Delabrierre experimented with iron as a worthy material for the Salon although that idea did not go over well with collectors who were accustomed to bronzes The works that were done in cast iron were produced by the art foundry Durenne Val Osne under the direction of Pierre Louis Rouillard A list of Delabrierre s 70 works presented at the Salon can be found in the Dictionnaire des Sculpteurs by Stanislas Lami 6 Versatility was one of Delabrierre s strengths The range of animals he sculpted covers nearly every large mammal to be found in continental Europe He also did a few lion and panther sculptures during his career as well as some camel and bird pieces but his favorite subjects seemed to be dogs and big cats He exhibited his Javanese panther in plaster at the 1857 Salon as well as Tigre du Bengale at the 1865 Salon 6 His repertoire also included some pieces executed in the orientalist genre Delabrierre used both the sand casting method and the lost wax method to create his sculptures As early as December 1869 his sculptures had begun to be imported to the United States by the Philadelphia jewelry firm of J E Caldwell amp Co who had a store at 902 Chesnut Street The store also advertised works by Jean Louis Gregoire Carrier Moigniez Mene and others 7 Delabrierre portrayed realism in nearly all his sculptures His circa 1870 bronze of a dog defecating took realism to an extreme level and was unusual if not outright strange The subject matter was likely detrimental to the sales of the sculpture 6 however it did possess certain qualities as a conversation piece Bronzes by Delabrierre and fellow animalier and countryman Jules Moigniez were popular in Britain and the United States in the late 19th century Selected Salon entries edit nbsp An odd bronze by Delabrierre showing a dog defecating c 1870 Note This sculpture was not a Salon entry Source 4 Levrier tenant un lievre sous sa patte 1848 Combat de cerfs 1849 Le Dernier pas chasse au cerf 1849 Tigre royal dechirant un jeune crocodile 1852 Cerf d Amerique blesse 1853 Panthere de l Inde devourant un heron 1861 Cerf de Cochinchine 1864 Tigre du Bengale 1865 Tiercelet sur perdrix 1873 Vache et son veau 1874 L Hallali and Coq faisan effraye par une belette 1875 Le Pas perdu chasse au renard 1876 Retour de chasse epoque Louis XV 1877 Chien Braque et lievre 1877 Piqueur de Charles IX 1881 Picador 1882 Chien sur perdrix 1898 Chiens courants 1904 Museums editSome examples of Delabrierre s work are displayed at the Musee de Picardie in Amiens France Included in the Amiens collection is his Panthere de l Inde Devourant un Heron 1858 that would later be a Salon entry in 1861 4 Signature examples edit nbsp Example No 1 3 nbsp Example No 2 Although his full name was Paul Edouard Delabrierre he almost always signed his sculptures as E Delabrierre in block or semi block type letters Occasionally he signed as simply Delabrierre as in the case of a two humped camel bronze he completed in 1849 6 The R that he used in his signature did not always feature as sharp a curve to the left as shown in signature example No 1 above left 3 Death and legacy editDelabrierre died in 1912 and is remembered as an important member of the animalier school 3 4 6 His monumental work L Equitation can be found on the facade of the Louvre 1 4 References edit a b c L Equitation musee orsay fr Retrieved 23 July 2015 a b Anne Eugenie Alleon gw geneanet org Retrieved 23 July 2015 a b c d Berman Harold 1974 Bronzes Sculptors amp Founders Signatures Vol 2 ed Chicago Illinois Abage Publishers p 475 a b c d e Kjellberg Pierre 1994 Bronzes of the 19th Century First ed Atglen Pennsylvania Schiffer Publishing Ltd p 278 ISBN 0 88740 629 7 Delabrierre Paul Edouard bnf fr 1897 Retrieved 23 July 2015 a b c d e f Payne Christopher 1986 Animals in Bronze Reference and Price Guide Woodbridge Suffolk England Antique Collectors Club Ltd p 401 ISBN 0 90746 245 6 Holiday Goods Bronzes The Evening Telegraph Philadelphia PA 20 December 1869 p 7 via Newspapers com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Edouard Delabrierre amp oldid 1190721539, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
