Ad Lumen, Bronze Sculpture, Emile Louis Picault, French 1833-1915

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What an impressive antique French bronze sculpture titled “Ad Lumen” by Émile Louis Picault. It shows a classical male figure … Read more What an impressive antique French bronze sculpture titled “Ad Lumen” by Émile Louis Picault. It shows a classical male figure clothed in a robe sitting atop a sphere pointing to the heavens. His other hand holds open a book. The inscription on the sphere reads “Ad Lumen”. It rests on a square base, signed “E.PICAULT”. Further, this base also carries the foundry mark

This French bronze sculpture has a very beautiful patina with subtle tones of brown. There numerous sized versions of this bronze but this is the largest I have come across, being a little taller than 3 feet in height.

The Latin inscription “Ad Lumen” on the globe can be translated as “Towards the Light”. One can think of this sculpture as an allegorical work that relates to enlightenment thinking. Through studiousness, as demonstrated by the male figure holding a book, he can dominate the known world that he his sitting on top of, and through this conquering of the world, gain a higher knowledge, understanding, and consciousness which he points to the heavens at.

This work would fit well in a study, office, or library where one can expand their own consciousness and achieve greater enlightenment. See less