"the Improviser" - Bronze By Félix Charpentier

Bronze with brown patina representing a young man playing a transverse flute made from a branch, known as "the Improviser". Stamp of the Founder E. Colin. Signature on the terrace. 19th century period. The first "improviser" was presented at the Paris Salon of 1887, where he received praise and won second prize. Charpentier took the bronze to the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1889, where he received the silver medal. It was purchased by France for the Luxembourg Museum, the country's first contemporary art museum. The famous bronze caster Colin obtained the publishing rights. Maison Colin is a prestigious art foundry installed at 29 rue Sévigné in Paris, from 1843. It participated in numerous Universal Exhibitions, including that of Chicago in 1893 where it presented a bronze clock mounted on a marble column in collaboration with Piat and Steiner. Also successful at the Universal Exhibition of 1900, crowned with a grand prize. This House worked with many renowned artists such as Carrier Belleuse, Marioton, Rozet, etc. The Maison Colin has changed owners several times, we find the signature “Anc. Mon Colin” at the time managed around 1906-1907 by Jollet & Cie, while apparently keeping the name “Ancienne Maison Colin” until 1911, when Jollet no longer published advertisements except 'to his name in the commercial directory. Félix Maurice Charpentier 1858 - 1924 Author of a stone group, Contemporary Art, adorning the facade of the Grand Palais and 2 bas reliefs, Navigation and Steam, on the facade of the Gare de Lyon in Paris. He also exhibited at the Salon in Parit in 1882, a number of allegories including the best known, a statue called the Improviser in 1887. and reproduced in bronze. by Colin et Cie Ref. : 19th century bronzes by Pierre KJELLBERG