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ROUILLAC

555 - Antonin Mercié (French, 1846–1916)
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Estimate €400 - €600
Sale commission
Description
Antonin Mercié (French, 1846–1916) David Defeating Goliath Bronze. Signed on the pedestal. Stamped ‘F. Bardienne, Fondeur Paris’. Mechanical reduction stamp ‘A. Colas’. Marked ‘589 F’. Height: 44.5 cm. Slight wear to the patina. Winner of the First Grand Prix de Rome in 1868, Antonin Mercié sent the plaster model of *David Defeating Goliath* from the Eternal City. He was clearly inspired by the Renaissance sculpture he had seen in person, particularly in his treatment of the contrapposto. Whilst the subject follows in the footsteps of the Great Masters, such as Donatello and Michelangelo, it also echoes contemporary events. The elegance of the pose and the resolve of the figure are seen as “a symbol of hope for France’s future revenge on Prussia” (Musée d’Orsay). The original plaster cast was awarded a first-class medal before being assigned to the Musée des Augustins in Toulouse (inv. RA 982). The State commissioned a bronze copy in 1872, which was placed in the Musée du Luxembourg in 1874. Given its critical acclaim, the sculpture was cast in numerous bronze copies, in six different sizes. Our example, however, differs from the original model in the modest loincloth covering his male attributes.
See original version (French)
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About the sale Classic and Contemporary Interiors II
Auction location
Auction time 09/18/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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