Important "summer" Bronze, Signed Carrier-belleuse – 2nd Half Of The 19th Century

In this magnificent bronze titled “Summer,” Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse displays the full sensuality and richness of his sculptural language. The female figure, embodying the season of abundance, stands with supreme grace, her body animated by a supple movement that causes the drapery around her to undulate. Light glides over the polished surfaces, revealing the delicacy of the modeling, the softness of the curves, and the precision of the details that attest to the master’s virtuosity.
In her arm, she holds sheaves of wheat—a striking symbol of fertility and summer warmth—which provide a textured counterpoint to the flowing folds of her garment. She also holds a few stalks aloft above her head. At her side, the child rises in a tender gesture, reinforcing the allegorical dimension of the scene and emphasizing the harmony between nature, motherhood, and the cycle of the seasons. He holds a sickle in his hand. The entire piece rests on a pedestal, adorned with a gilded plaque bearing the title of the work and the artist’s name. The sculptor’s signature is inscribed on this pedestal.
This bronze with a deep patina is distinguished by its perfect balance between narrative power, decorative refinement, and sculptural presence, offering a luminous and timeless vision of summer as envisioned by one of the greatest sculptors of the 19th century.

Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (1824–1887) was one of the most brilliant French sculptors of the 19th century, a master of the Neo-Baroque style and a virtuoso of modeling. Trained at the École des Beaux-Arts and having worked in the workshops of the Sèvres porcelain manufactory, he quickly established himself as a sought-after artist for his elegant, sensual, and decorative figures. His prolific body of work spans both monumental sculpture and refined bronzes intended for bourgeois interiors. He was also the first mentor of Auguste Rodin, who recognized in him an immense talent for modeling. Carrier-Belleuse remains today an indispensable reference in French sculpture of the Second Empire.

********

Period: Second half of the 19th century

Very good condition
Shipping available upon request in France and internationally

Dimensions:
Height: 74 cm
Width: 22 cm
Depth: 20 cm
Bronze weight: 22.5 kg

Reference 681V