SUZANNE BY EUGENE ANTOINE AIZELIN (1821-1902)

Bronze with brown patina representing Suzanne byEugène Antoine AIZELIN. "Suzanne au bain" is a biblical episode telling the story of a young woman, Suzanne who, observed while taking her bath, refuses the dishonest proposals of two old men. In revenge, they accuse her of adultery and have her sentenced to death. But the prophet Daniel intervenes, proves her innocence and has the old men condemned. The episode is found in chapter 13 of the book of Daniel.

This figure of a woman, 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 hollow on the base: "Aizelin sculpteur". Mark of the publisher Gautier et Albinet Paris. Stepped base in white veined Carrara marble.

Late 19th century, Circa: 1890

Dim: W:16cm, D:16,5cm, H:38cm.

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 until 1897 and again at the Exposition Universelle in 1900. Among his biblical and mythological subjects, genre scenes, opera characters and effigies of saints, there is "Suzanne" which he presented at the Salon of 1897. Ferdinand Barbedienne published a fairly large number of works by this sculptor in bronze, as did Gautier and Albinet who published our "Suzanne". François Gautier founded his bronze workshop in 1850 and settled in Paris, at 3 rue des Fossés-Montmartre. He obtained a 1st class medal in 1855 with table tops, statues, art and furniture bronzes. He exhibited again in 1862 and shortly afterwards sold his house to J. Albinet and G. Coulon, located at 4 rue de Choiseul in Paris, who specialised in bronze clocks and mantelpieces. In 1874, the two partners exhibited art and furniture bronzes, candelabras, clocks and statuettes of various styles.

Bibliography:

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

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