Adrien étienne Gaudez (1845-1902) – David – Bronze With Brown Patina, Late 19th Century

A charming depiction of David as a young man, holding his sling after the battle, after the model by the French sculptor Adrien Étienne Gaudez (1845-1902), a student of Jouffroy and a renowned figure in late 19th-century academic sculpture. The young biblical hero is rendered here with finesse and balance. The delicate modeling of the torso, the suppleness of the contrapposto pose, and the quality of the hair work testify to the sculptor's skill. The light drapery around the hips animates the composition while maintaining the classical elegance characteristic of the artist. The sculpture displays a beautiful, nuanced brown patina, revealing subtle lighter highlights on the reliefs. The chasing is precise, particularly in the details of the face and hands. The base bears the signature A. Gaudez. The piece rests on a circular wooden plinth equipped with its original rotating mechanism, allowing the work to be appreciated from all angles—a refined feature characteristic of late 19th-century display bronzes. Beneath the base is an old number (29), probably a workshop or assembly number. A high-quality, decorative, and expressive work, representative of academic French sculpture of the Third Republic.