Fallen Arab, His Horse Immobilised Next to Him," [Arabe tue, son cheval immobilise pres de lui], bronze with medium brown patina, modeled in 1883, cast in St. Petersburg circa 1892 by the firm of Karl Avgustovich Bertault, length: 32 cm (12 5/8 in.), height: 22 cm (8 5/8 in.), width: 15 cm (6 in.), inscribed with signature on base in Cyrillic 'E. Lansere', additionally inscribed in Cyrillic with the foundry mark of K Bertault. The firm of Karl [Charles] Avgustovich Bertault, is intricately linked with the history of the firm of his fellow Frenchman, Felix Chopin. In 1886, Chopin asked Charles Bertault, who was working in Paris for Barbedienne, to manage both his foundries and his shops in St. Peterburg, which Bertault accepted. From 1886-1892, one can find bronzes from the Chopin foundry marked 'Chopin and Bertault,' further evidence that Chopin held Bertault's work in such high regard that he would trust his name with that of his colleague. After the death of Chopin in 1892, Bertault became the proprietor of one of Chopin's foundries, the other having been bought by Shtange. Bertault would continue production and sale of bronzes of the highest quality from his office at 68 Nevsky Prospect, and his castings won gold medals at the Exposition Universelles in Paris. By 1902, sales were declining however, and Bertault was forced to close the foundry. In 1883, Eugene Lanceray, along with his friend Vyacheslav Rossolovksy, made an extended trip to Algeria. Following this journey, a series of models, including the present one, were created. This work depicts a scene in which an Arab warrior has perished, and his faithful horse refuses to leave his side, wanting to recuperate his master. It is an exceptionally detailed sculpture, highy expressive and emotional, with the musculature and positioning of both the horse and his rider making it even more effective. REFERENCES: State Historical Library Album, Moscow, L. 41. Russian Historical Library Album, St. Petersburg, L. 90; Lanceray's Production Album, Nos. 77-99, (in Lanceray's notes as 'Ubityy arab, okolo nego stoit ego loshad') ;
PROVENANCE:
Acquired by Ambassador Clark E. Carr, American Ambassador to Denmark from 1889-1893, and Great-Grandfather of the present owner, and has remained in the family collection since it was acquired. EXHIBITED: 1886, Lanceray and Ober, No. 46
LITERATURE:
N.N. Vrangel / Grabar, Vol.5, 'Istoriya russkogo iskusstva', Moscow, 1913, p, 342; I.M. Scmidt, 'Evgeny Alekandrovich Lanceray. 1848-1886), Moscow, 1954, p. 24; G.W. Sudbury, "Evgueni Alexandrovitch Lanceray, 1848-1886," Lausanne, 2006, p.156; L.A. Dementieva, 'Evgeny Lanceray: Albom skulpturnykh modeley,' Moscow: State Historical Museum, 2011, pp.206-207