Sculpture - Orpheus In The Underworld, Charles Raoul Verlet (1857-1923) - Bronze

Bronze proof with brown patina , depicting "Orpheus" , and the famous guardian of the entrance to Hell , "Cerberus".
The scene transcribes the moment when "Orpheus", losing his love "Eurydice" at the gates of Hell , prepares to return alone to earth .
Bronze resting on a circular , rotating base , in yellow sienna marble .
Signature of the sculptor "Raoul Verlet" , in hollow on the naturalistic terrace , richly chiseled and decorated .
Signature of the founder , "F.BARBEDIENNE FONDEUR".
Bronze of old edition , period second part of the XIXth century .
Very good state of conservation and patina .

Height : 71 cm

"Orpheus" and "Eurydice"

"Eurydice" , faithful companion of Orpheus was pursued by "Aristeas" , on her wedding day .
While trying to flee , she is bitten by a snake and dies .
Orpheus , trying to save his wife "Eurydice" from death , decides to enter the realm of the dead .

Through his captivating song , he succeeds in convincing the infernal deities that the one he loves and whom he came to seek is returned to him , on the sole condition that : He does not lay any eyes on her before having left the world of the Underworld , "otherwise the favor will be of no effect" .
But on the way back , wanting to appease the incomprehension of Eurydice who begs him to look at her , the young boy turns around , and thus loses her definitively .
Orpheus is guilty of impatience .
Desperate , he goes back to Earth alone .

Charles Raoul Verlet (1857-1923)

Charles Raoul Verlet , is a famous French sculptor , born in Angoulême , September 7 , 1857 .

He first studied sculpture in Bordeaux from 1884 to 1886 , then he was admitted to the School of Fine Arts in Paris , where he followed for four years the teaching provided by Jules Cavelier and Louis-Ernest Barrias .
Raoul Verlet exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1880 to 1914 .

He obtained an "Honorable Mention" at the Salon of French Artists in 1885 for his Bust of "Docteur Bouillaud", and in 1886 for the "Tombeau de Madame Weiller" .
He won the "Second Prize of Rome" and the "Silver Medal" at the 1887 Salon for "Orpheus in Hell" , purchased by the City of Paris .
He received numerous orders for statues and monuments in Paris , Rouen , Marseille , Cognac , Louviers .
At the same time , he executed a large number of busts of individuals .

From 1905 , he taught at the National School of Fine Arts , he was appointed member of the Institute in 1910 , replacing Emmanuel Fremiet .
Raoul Verlet died on December 1 , 1923 in Cannes .