French Bronze Sculpture, Cendrillon by Jean-Jules Frere
It is quite appropriate that a French sculptor created this bronze of Cinderella, for after all it was a French author who gave us the modern version of the beloved fairy tale of the young woman who went from riches to rags to riches with the help of a fairy godmother.
She is seated somewhat forlornly holding a spindle of yarn, but it is the two objects behind her feet which give away the story. On her right is a billow which one associates with the fireplace and cinders, and a single ornate slipper which does not accompany her ordinary skirt and top. Thus we find our heroine after the ball, where all was lost but a sole slipper.
The bronze is patinated in brown but suffused with clay coppery tones best observable in the close-up of the artist marking J Frere for Jean-Jules Frere (1851-1906). Indeed these suffusions are most natural given that Frere produced works in terra cotta, tones subtly present in this bronze. But hark. Frere produced a prototype of this bronze in terra cotta, itself considered to be an important work. The prototype does not have the slipper.
For Frere to have invested the time to produce this work in both media is testimony to the significance which this work and subject meant to him.
The dating would be late 19th century to early 20th century, but I am going with the earlier dating because of a lack of foundry marks and country of origin. Fourth quarter of the 19th century is my current estimate of age. Frere was accomplished in both painting and sculpture.
It is a complex production with the body and head made in separate parts, and others such as the bellows and shoe added to enhance the story.
The bronze is quite heavy and will require considerable strength to lift. I estimate the weight at 30-40 pounds. It will be packed in a wooden crate. less
9ʺW × 14.5ʺD × 31.5ʺH
There are quite minor defects such as filming on the front based shown in one of the images. There is also mossing on the right leg below the skirt. Overall, the bronze is in excellent condition even with these minor distractions.
She is seated somewhat forlornly holding a spindle of yarn, but it is the two objects behind her feet which give away the story. On her right is a billow which one associates with the fireplace and cinders, and a single ornate slipper which does not accompany her ordinary skirt and top. Thus we find our heroine after the ball, where all was lost but a sole slipper.
The bronze is patinated in brown but suffused with clay coppery tones best observable in the close-up of the artist marking J Frere for Jean-Jules Frere (1851-1906). Indeed these suffusions are most natural given that Frere produced works in terra cotta, tones subtly present in this bronze. But hark. Frere produced a prototype of this bronze in terra cotta, itself considered to be an important work. The prototype does not have the slipper.
For Frere to have invested the time to produce this work in both media is testimony to the significance which this work and subject meant to him.
The dating would be late 19th century to early 20th century, but I am going with the earlier dating because of a lack of foundry marks and country of origin. Fourth quarter of the 19th century is my current estimate of age. Frere was accomplished in both painting and sculpture.
It is a complex production with the body and head made in separate parts, and others such as the bellows and shoe added to enhance the story.
The bronze is quite heavy and will require considerable strength to lift. I estimate the weight at 30-40 pounds. It will be packed in a wooden crate. less
9ʺW × 14.5ʺD × 31.5ʺH
There are quite minor defects such as filming on the front based shown in one of the images. There is also mossing on the right leg below the skirt. Overall, the bronze is in excellent condition even with these minor distractions.
