Large Bronze By Adrien Etienne Gaudez End 19 Eme 1845 Lyon 1902 Neuilly-sur-seine.

Large bronze sculpture by Adrien Etienne Gaudez (1845-1902), 77 cm high, in very good condition with a superb patina. Entitled "The Beastmaster," depicting a gladiator confronting a wild beast, this handsome, muscular man subdues and dominates the animal, holding it by the scruff of the neck, with a slight smile that seems almost tender and amused towards the wild animal. Born in Lyon in 1845, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1862. Among other awards, he received a gold medal at the 1889 Paris Universal Exposition, which explains the inscription "hors concours" (out of competition) on the medallion; he could no longer receive any prizes other than honorary ones.
This bronze is original to the period and is not a reproduction. He died in 1902 in Neuilly-sur-Seine. He is best known for his large bronze public monuments, for example the Monument to Parmentier and the Monument to Jean-Rodolphe Perronet in Neuilly-sur-Seine. He was highly regarded for his decorative statues among the bourgeois circles of the time and was renowned for his patinas, particularly the superb two-tone finish on this sculpture. His work is represented in several museums, including the Musée d'Orsay and the Petit Palais.
His record at auction is €145,000 for a Bust of a Turkish Princess; my piece has never appeared on the market!
Note the beautiful movement of the man with a slight sway of the hips, his body leaning back with a sense of strength and power. His foot, as well as one of the animal's feet, extends beyond the base, giving the scene a great deal of life, as if they were about to step out of the frame!