Bronze Reduction Bust of Molière by F. Barbedienne, after Caffieri

Details

Description

Bronze Reduction Bust of Molière by F. Barbedienne, after Caffieri, circa 1870s

Measurements:
5.25" high x 3.25" wide x 2.25" … Read more Bronze Reduction Bust of Molière by F. Barbedienne, after Caffieri, circa 1870s

Measurements:
5.25" high x 3.25" wide x 2.25" deep
Base: 2" square white marble

Description
A finely cast bronze reduction bust of Molière (Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, 1622–1673), the celebrated French dramatist and actor, mounted on its original white marble plinth. The bust bears the impressed foundry mark “F. BARBEDIENNE, FONDEUR” and the round mechanical reduction seal of Achille Collas, indicating production by the world-renowned Parisian foundry of Ferdinand Barbedienne in the latter half of the 19th century.

The model derives from the celebrated portrait bust by Jean-Jacques Caffieri (1725–1792), who executed official likenesses of France’s great playwrights and poets for the Comédie-Française. With its flowing hair, intense gaze, and artful drapery, the bust captures both the theatrical genius and the romanticized persona of Molière, widely regarded as one of the fathers of modern European comedy.

Historical Context
Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810–1892) was the most important French bronze founder of the 19th century, producing both monumental commissions and finely finished reductions of classical and Renaissance models. His collaboration with inventor Achille Collas, who patented the réduction mécanique process in the 1830s, revolutionized the market by allowing precise, small-scale bronzes to be made from larger originals. This series of “Illustres Hommes”—busts of France’s greatest cultural figures, including Corneille, Racine, La Fontaine, and Molière—became highly prized by educated collectors and Grand Tour travelers alike.

Condition
Excellent patina with minor, expected handling wear; the marble base shows light corner rubbing consistent with age. Both foundry and reduction seals are clearly legible. See less