Surrounding. Denis Chaudet - Buste De Napoleon En Hermes - Empire Period Lost Wax Cast Bronze

Bust of Napoleon I, Emperor in Hermes. Bronze with black-brown patina, lost-wax casting, titled Napoleon on the front. Surrounded by Denis Chaudet (1763-1810) or his workshop. An Empire period print.

A month after the proclamation of the Empire, in Messidor of Year XII (1804), newspapersnewspapers reported that plaster buststhat life-size plaster busts of the Emperor, modeled byChaudet, were available. The artist had justmodified his 1802 bust by removing his harness and cloak to create themodel of the bust of Napoleon as HermesNapoleon as Hermes, which was to be a huge success.This effigy, although not officially commissioned, met with greatan official commission, it met with great success and was reproducedin plaster, bronze, Sèvres cookie and marble. DominiqueVivant Denon (1747-1825), the first directorof the Musée Napoléon in the Louvre, had some fifteen bronzes cast in 1807 bronzes for the Empire'sdignitaries of the Empire. Following this prestigious seriesit would appear that proofs of various sizeswere made as gifts for less important figures, or for sale.or for sale.Our bust is part of this series of so-called "medium-sizedquality cast iron and chasing, cast around the time of the

The bust of Napoleon as Hermes (antique-style bust on a quadrangular pillar) is a great classic among Empire enthusiasts, and has been the subject of numerous prints of varying quality. Our bust is a true Empire period print, a lost-wax casting and not a mechanical reproduction, with a beautiful black patina, extremely fine chasing (which can be measured by the details of the hair), and a large, spectacular print.

Very good condition, even, well-preserved patina.

Height 48cm