Monumental 15" Raoul Larche "Jésus Enfant" Bronze Bust, Rare Gold Gilt Polychrome Patina, Siot-Decauville Paris c.1900

Details

Description

An exceptional, investment-grade original French Art Nouveau two-tone patinated and gilt bronze portrait bust titled "Buste de Jésus Enfant" (Bust … Read more An exceptional, investment-grade original French Art Nouveau two-tone patinated and gilt bronze portrait bust titled "Buste de Jésus Enfant" (Bust of the Infant Jesus) by the celebrated Belle Époque master François-Raoul Larche (French, 1860–1912). Following the massive critical success of his full-length spiritual figures at the Paris Salon, Larche modeled this magnificent bust to capture a rare moment of youthful innocence, modern fluid lines, and profound psychological depth.
Larche is widely celebrated across Art Nouveau history for portraying Christ with a distinctly inquisitive, young, and lively air. The young Jesus is captured with an expression of pure, open-mouthed wonderment, his head turned dramatically to the side with wide eyes and softly parted lips.

The Rare Radiant Patination variant:
Unlike more common, uniformly muddy brown-dominant castings found on the secondary market, this specific specimen features a highly coveted, premium gold-dominant two-tone polychrome finish. The entire face, neck, and upper collarbones glow with a brilliant, polished golden-gilt bronze highlight matrix. This radiant surface contrasts sharply with the deep, earthy, dark chocolate-brown tones used to model the rugged, thickly sculpted locks of long flowing hair and draped tunic folds. This magnificent hand-applied variation gives the features incredible, three-dimensional presence under gallery lighting.

Provenance, Foundry Seals & Authentication:
This important fine art sculpture stands as a verified lifetime period casting from the elite Siot-Decauville Fondeur Paris workshop. The lower rear edge bears the crisp, official stamped circular foundry seal pastille, alongside the authentic hand-stamped production control and batch number P771. Larche’s hand-incised script signature "RAOUL LARCHE" is clearly visible directly within the bronze cast on the lower front drapery fold. A highly liquid, museum-grade fine art asset that brings immediate historic gravity, Venetian-scale luxury, and elite curation to a premium fireplace mantle, walnut credenza, or executive library display.

Dimensions & Specifications:
• Width: 15.5 inches
• Depth: 7.5 inches
• Height: 15"
• Weight: approx. 18-25 lbs

Condition Report:
Excellent antique condition. The bronze sculpture retains its 100% original, untouched historic dual-tone patination with minor surface scratches, faint rub wear to the high relief points of the hair, and very minor oxidation to the inner base cavity entirely commensurate with its 125-year lifecycle. Completely structural, stable, and ready for immediate high-end showroom presentation. See less