Emmanuel Villdnis, ‘Nelly’, French Art Nouveau Patinated Bronze Bust, ca. 1890

Details

Description

DETAILS
Signed and foundry mark on back.

DIMENSIONS
Height: 4-15/16 inches
Width: 2-5/16 inches
Depth: 2.25 inches

ABOUT THE SCULPTURE
… Read more DETAILS
Signed and foundry mark on back.

DIMENSIONS
Height: 4-15/16 inches
Width: 2-5/16 inches
Depth: 2.25 inches

ABOUT THE SCULPTURE
This portrait bust is of Nelly Faner, famous burlesque dancer at the turn of the XX Century Paris.

ABOUT THE SCULPTORE
Emmanuel Villdnis (French, 1858 – 1914) was born to Italian parents in France, in 1858. He moved with the family to Piedmont, Italy, in March 1861; after the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy.

Known in Italy as Villani, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts Albertina in Turin from 1871 to 1880 alongside master-sculptor Odoardo Tabacchi. When Villanis graduated, he exhibited his first works in cities across Italy, notably his bust ‘Alda’ in Milan, in 1881.

Villanis returned to France in 1885, living and working in the Montmartre district of Paris and didn’t leave Montmartre until his death on August 28th 1914.

Villanis specialised in female bronze busts. Many are based on musical subjects such as opera heroines and composers, as well as famous characters from literature and mythology. The women were beautiful and young and often looked thoughtful, detached and melancholy. They displayed harmonious proportions with each having an oval face, hollow eyes, short nose, full lips and long hair.

His subjects are each found in two or three sizes and mainly made of bronze, pewter or spelter. His busts were cast by the Society des Bronzes de Paris, Bronze Garanti au titre Paris, Vrai Bronze Garanti Paris, E Blot Paris Vrai Bronze and K K Kunst-Erzgiesserei Wien and exported all over the world.

The works of Villanis often feature muti-hued patination, in two or more colours, which is particularly beautiful. They also often feature the title of the piece fairly prominently. During the 19th Century it was vital for a sculptor to exhibit at the Salon des Artistes in order to gain recognition and commissions. Villanis did so 11 times between 1886 and 1910, exhibiting 17 sculptures including the four busts Nerina in 1887, Galatee in 1894, Mignon in 1896 and Judith in 1898. Villanis received an Honourable Mention for the two maquette statues he presented in 1892. See less