Eugène-antoine Aizelin (1821–1902), *the Shepherds Of Arcadia*, 1867, Large Bronze, Barbedinne

Artist: Eugène-Antoine Aizelin (1821–1902)
Foundry: Ferdinand Barbedienne, Paris
Model: 1867
Period: 19th century
Origin: France

Magnificent bronze sculpture group with a nuanced brown patina, titled “ The Shepherds of Arcadia”, based on a model created in 1867 by the French sculptor Eugène-Antoine Aizelin (1821–1902), and produced by the prestigious Ferdinand Barbedienne foundry in Paris.

This remarkable composition depicts a young shepherd and his companion, united in a pose imbued with melancholy and contemplation, before a funerary monument.

The subject is inspired by the famous theme “Et in Arcadia ego”, notably illustrated by Nicolas Poussin, evoking the inevitable presence of death, even in the ideal and peaceful world of Arcadia.

The young woman leans tenderly on the shepherd’s shoulder, while he, holding his staff, contemplates the monument. Their postures and expressions subtly convey meditation and the fragility of human existence.

The sculpture stands out for the remarkable quality of its cast, the precision of its chiseling, and the richness of its details. The rendering of the faces, hair, clothing, and plant elements attests to great artistic and technical mastery.

The beautiful, nuanced brown patina highlights the forms and lends the work as a whole a particularly elegant depth.

A poetic and expressive work, characteristic of the great tradition of 19th-century French sculpture and the excellence of the Barbedienne foundry’s editions.

Signature: “E. AIZELIN 1867”
Foundry mark: “F. BARBEDIENNE FONDEUR”
Reduction stamp: “MECHANICAL REDUCTION A. COLLAS”

The presence of these three marks attests to a bronze edition produced by the Barbedienne foundry, using the mechanical reduction process developed by Achille Collas.

Material: Bronze with a nuanced brown patina
Dimensions: H. 63 × W. 32 × D. 23 cm
Period: 19th century

Eugène-Antoine Aizelin (1821–1902) was a renowned French sculptor who trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, notably under Auguste Dumont.

He exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon beginning in 1852 and participated in the major artistic events of his time.

His body of work includes mythological, historical, religious, and allegorical compositions, prized for their elegance, sensitivity, and the finesse of their execution.

Several of his models were cast in bronze by the famous Ferdinand Barbedienne foundry, whose castings rank among the most renowned achievements of 19th-century French decorative sculpture.

Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810–1892) founded one of the most prestigious foundries for artistic bronze works of the 19th century in Paris.

Renowned for the excellence of its castings and the quality of its finishes, the Barbedienne foundry collaborated with numerous renowned sculptors and contributed significantly to the dissemination of the great sculptural works of its time.