étienne Henri Dumaige (1830–1888) The Musicians
Artist: étienne Henri Dumaige (1830–1888)
An important pair of bronze sculptures with a triple patina, light brown, dark brown, and gold, signed Dumaige.
Circa 1870.
Height of the sculptures without the columns:
160 cm.
Description
This sumptuous pair of bronze sculptures is the work of the French academic sculptor Étienne Henri Dumaige, an artist active in the second half of the 19th century. A student of Auguste Dumont and Jean-Jacques Feuchère, Dumaige exhibited regularly at the Salon from 1863 onward. He adhered to the neoclassical and historicist style that was very popular during the Second Empire.
The two life-size female figures represent musical allegories: one holds a triangle, the other plays cymbals. Draped in antique-style tunics that are both light and expertly modeled, they embody ideal beauty according to academic canons, combining restrained sensuality and spiritual elevation. Their graceful posture, the haughty carriage of their heads, and their gentle yet focused expressions underscore their symbolic character: they are not simply musicians, but personifications of musical and rhythmic art.
Dumaige demonstrates here a perfect mastery of bronze sculpture: the draperies are rendered with remarkable virtuosity, while the details, bracelets, sandals, instruments are enhanced with gilded bronze, in refined contrast with the brown patina.
Biographie
Étienne-Henri Dumaige (1830‑1888) was a prominent French sculptor of the 19th century, known for the finesse, elegance, and precision of his work. Born in Paris, he trained in the studios of renowned masters of his time, including Jean-Jacques Feuchère and Christophe Dumont, who shaped his refined and expressive style.
He exhibited regularly at the prestigious Salon des Artistes Français from 1863 to 1886 and was awarded a second-class medal in 1880 for his notable works. Dumaige excelled in bronze, marble, and plaster, creating allegorical groups, historical figures, and portraits full of movement and sensitivity.
He also completed public commissions, producing sculptures for monuments and important buildings, while continuing to create smaller collectible pieces. His work combines academic spirit with neoclassical and historicist influences, capturing the grace, strength, and expressiveness of his subjects.
Étienne-Henri Dumaige passed away in 1888 in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, leaving a rich artistic legacy celebrated for its technical mastery and timeless beauty.
Circa 1870.
Height of the sculptures without the columns:
160 cm.
Description
This sumptuous pair of bronze sculptures is the work of the French academic sculptor Étienne Henri Dumaige, an artist active in the second half of the 19th century. A student of Auguste Dumont and Jean-Jacques Feuchère, Dumaige exhibited regularly at the Salon from 1863 onward. He adhered to the neoclassical and historicist style that was very popular during the Second Empire.
The two life-size female figures represent musical allegories: one holds a triangle, the other plays cymbals. Draped in antique-style tunics that are both light and expertly modeled, they embody ideal beauty according to academic canons, combining restrained sensuality and spiritual elevation. Their graceful posture, the haughty carriage of their heads, and their gentle yet focused expressions underscore their symbolic character: they are not simply musicians, but personifications of musical and rhythmic art.
Dumaige demonstrates here a perfect mastery of bronze sculpture: the draperies are rendered with remarkable virtuosity, while the details, bracelets, sandals, instruments are enhanced with gilded bronze, in refined contrast with the brown patina.
Biographie
Étienne-Henri Dumaige (1830‑1888) was a prominent French sculptor of the 19th century, known for the finesse, elegance, and precision of his work. Born in Paris, he trained in the studios of renowned masters of his time, including Jean-Jacques Feuchère and Christophe Dumont, who shaped his refined and expressive style.
He exhibited regularly at the prestigious Salon des Artistes Français from 1863 to 1886 and was awarded a second-class medal in 1880 for his notable works. Dumaige excelled in bronze, marble, and plaster, creating allegorical groups, historical figures, and portraits full of movement and sensitivity.
He also completed public commissions, producing sculptures for monuments and important buildings, while continuing to create smaller collectible pieces. His work combines academic spirit with neoclassical and historicist influences, capturing the grace, strength, and expressiveness of his subjects.
Étienne-Henri Dumaige passed away in 1888 in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, leaving a rich artistic legacy celebrated for its technical mastery and timeless beauty.
84 000 €
Period: 19th century
Style: Napoleon 3rd
Condition: Excellent condition
Material: Bronze
Height: 160 cm
Reference (ID): 1691686
Availability: In stock
Print
