A bronze sculpture with a brown patina depicting Susanna by Eugène Antoine Aizelin . "Susanna at her Bath" is a biblical episode recounting the story of a young woman, Susanna, who, observed while bathing, refuses the lewd advances of two elderly men. In revenge, they accuse her of adultery and have her condemned to death. But the prophet Daniel intervenes, proves her innocence, and has the elders condemned. The episode is found in chapter 13 of the Book of Daniel.

This female figure, draped in the antique style, is a perfect example of the Neoclassical style that inspired sculptors until the end of the 19th century. Signed in relief on the base: "Aizelin sculpteur". Publisher's mark: Gautier et Albinet Paris. Stepped base in veined white Carrara marble. Circa 1890

Documentation:

Eugène Aizelin (Paris, 1821-1902). A student of Ramey and Dumont at the École des Beaux-Arts in 1844, he exhibited regularly at the Salon from 1852 to 1897 and again at the 1900 Universal Exhibition. Among his biblical and mythological subjects, genre scenes, operatic characters, and effigies of saints is "Susanna," which he presented at the 1897 Salon. Ferdinand Barbedienne produced a considerable number of this sculptor's works in bronze, as did Gautier and Albinet, who produced our "Susanna." François Gautier founded his bronze workshop in 1850 and established it in Paris, at 3 rue des Fossés-Montmartre. He won a first-class medal in 1855 for his table centerpieces, statues, and bronze art and furniture pieces. He exhibited again in 1862 and shortly thereafter sold his business to J. Albinet and G. Coulon, who were based at 4 rue de Choiseul in Paris and at the time specialized in bronze clocks and mantelpieces. The two partners exhibited bronze art and furniture pieces, candelabra, clocks, and statuettes in various styles in 1874.

Bibliography:

Pierre Kjellberg, Les bronzes du XIXe siècle. Dictionnaire des sculpteurs, Paris, les Éditions de l'Amateur, 1989, pp. 37-38;

Bernard Metman, Small sculpture in the 19th century. Les éditeurs, Archives de l'Art français, 1989, t. XXX, pp. 184, 195.