Faune Musicien et Chevreau
This exquisitely refined bronze sculpture, created by Ary-Jean-Léon Bitter (1883–1973), depicts a mythological faun seated on the ground, playing two flutes with a laurel wreath adorning his head. In front of him lies a young goat in a relaxed posture, peacefully listening to the music. The relationship between the two figures radiates tenderness and calm. The anatomical precision, the dynamic flow in the faun’s drapery, and the natural pose of the goat all testify to exceptional artistic craftsmanship.
A particularly striking feature is the way the sculpture seamlessly merges with its natural stone base. The slender legs of the goat rest gracefully against the Verde Indio marble, while bronze foliage motifs elegantly descend along the sides. On the front, a bronze plaque is affixed, engraved with the signature “Ary Bitter”, the foundry mark “Susse Frères, Paris”, and the important inscription “Cire Perdue”, indicating the lost-wax casting technique used.
Cire Perdue – Lost-Wax Technique
The term cire perdue refers to the traditional lost-wax casting process, a centuries-old technique dating back to classical antiquity. In this method, the original model is sculpted in wax and then encased in a heat-resistant mold. Upon heating, the wax melts away (hence “lost wax”), leaving a hollow cavity in the shape of the model. Molten bronze is then poured into the mold. After cooling, the mold is broken away to reveal the final sculpture. Since the mold is destroyed in the process, every cire perdue bronze is a unique creation, explaining the fine level of detail and its exclusivity.
About the artist
Ary Bitter was born in Marseille and received his initial artistic training at the École des Beaux-Arts in his hometown. He later studied at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts in Paris, where he was a pupil of the influential sculptor Louis-Ernest Barrias. Bitter gained acclaim for his elegant animal figures, allegorical works, and mythological scenes, embodying a subtle synthesis of Classicism and Art Deco.
From 1910 onward, he regularly exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français, where he was awarded several prizes, including a gold medal in 1924. Today, his works can be found in French museums and private collections around the world.
Price: € 3950,-
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