Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Eagle Sculpture Signed Rousseau C. 1870

Details

Description

An animated, gilt bronze eagle arrests the moment of takeoff: shoulders thrust forward, primaries flared, and the head canted to … Read more An animated, gilt bronze eagle arrests the moment of takeoff: shoulders thrust forward, primaries flared, and the head canted to the left with the beak parted in a cry. The composition is organized as a dramatic X—diagonal wings countered by the diagonal thrust of the tail—so that energy radiates across the compact rocky plinth. Close chasing articulates every register of plumage, from the tight burr of the neck feathers to the layered coverts and the deeply undercut flight feathers whose serrated edges catch the light. The rock base is vigorously modeled with ridges and fissures that echo the bird’s textures and reinforce its predatory grip. A warm fire-gilt surface flows over the metal, heightening the relief and producing lively reflections along the wing edges and breast. Cast with integral hardware beneath, the model typifies Parisian decorative bronzes of the Belle Époque—robustly naturalistic yet designed to crown a clock, trophy, or cabinet. The sculptor’s signature **ROUSSEAU** appears on the side edge of the plinth. At once emblematic and naturalistic, the piece balances heraldic clarity with animalier observation, presenting the eagle not as a static emblem but as a living force concentrated at the instant of ascent.

Dimensions: 9.5" W × 6.5" D × 6.5" H; base 3" × 3.5". Gilt bronze. Signed “Rousseau.” See less