Bronze After Guillaume Coustou (1677–1746) The Horses Of Marly Bronze With Brown And Gilt Patina

Bronze after Guillaume Coustou (1677–1746) The Horses of Marly Bronze with brown patina and gilding This bronze is an interpretation after Guillaume Coustou, inspired by the famous sculpted group The Horses of Marly, commissioned by Louis XIV for the park of the Château de Marly. The scene depicts a groom struggling to control a rearing horse, in a composition of great expressive power. The contrast between the vigor of the animal and the strained effort of the human figure conveys a moment of dramatic tension, emblematic of French Baroque and Classical aesthetics. The brown patina of the human figure and the horse is enhanced with partial gilding, highlighting the musculature and accentuating the relief. The whole rests on a sculpted terrace, a veined marble plinth, and then a gilded architectural base, giving the work an imposing decorative presence. This work is in the tradition of 19th century decorative bronzes, made after the great models of 18th century French sculpture.