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ROUILLAC
556
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Antonin Mercié (French, 1845–1916)
See original version (French)
556
-
Antonin Mercié (French, 1845–1916)
See original version (French)
Estimate €1,000 - €1,500
Voluntary lot
Description
Antonin Mercié (French, 1845–1916)
after Jean-Léon Gérôme (French, 1824–1904)
The Almée or The Belly Dance
Silver-plated bronze.
Signed on the reverse. Mark of the publisher Goupil & Cie.
Height: 41.5 cm.
Minor wear to the silver plating.
Antonin Mercié. A silver-plated bronze sculpture entitled ‘L’Almée’ or ‘La danse du ventre’ (The belly dance). After Jean-Léon Gérôme. Signed.
Bibliography:
- Gerald M. Ackerman, “Jean-Léon Gérôme”, ACR éditions, Tours, 2000, reproduced on page 380;
- “Gérôme et Goupil Art & Entreprise”, Editions de la Réunion des Musées Nationaux, 2000, bronze model reproduced on page 130 under number 1987 and on pages 50–51.
A leading figure in Orientalism, Jean-Léon Gérôme depicts a fantastical Egyptian scene in his painting *The Dance of the Almée*. Now held at the Dayton Art Institute (no. 1951.15), this painting, presented at the 1864 Salon, was the subject of debate, with some praising the work’s dynamism and others criticising it, particularly for its immoral nature. The controversy and its dissemination through Goupil’s engravings brought the work widespread fame, particularly in the United States. Goupil subsequently commissioned a bronze version from Mercié around 1875. The sculptor simplified the composition and emphasised its mannered quality. Only a small number of copies were cast, all in a single size of 40 centimetres, with the deluxe versions finished in silver-plated bronze.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
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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