A Significant Collection Of Works From The Studio Of The Sculptor Carrier-belleuse (1824–1887), Including Drawings, Sketchbooks, And Correspondence

An exceptional collection of documents from the studio of Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (1824–1887), one of the most important French sculptors of the 19th century, mentor to Auguste Rodin, and director of artistic works at the Manufacture de Sèvres. This collection brings together two antique albums containing a large number of original photographs of the artist’s sculptures, carefully captioned by hand and constituting a veritable photographic catalog of his work. It also includes a sketchbook featuring several original pencil drawings, reflecting his explorations and preparatory work, as well as a collection of letters and handwritten documents relating to his studio, his models, his molds, and his estate. An old photograph of Carrier-Belleuse accompanies this particularly cohesive collection. Rarely preserved in its entirety, such a collection offers a valuable insight into the workings of a major sculpture studio in the second half of the 19th century. Its significance extends far beyond that of mere archives: it constitutes a source of paramount importance for the history of French sculpture, the Sèvres Manufactory, and the decorative arts. Intended for both collectors and institutions, this remarkable collection is being offered in its entirety.