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Learn MoreBacchante à la grappe by Jean-Léon Gérôme
- This exquisite gilt bronze sculpture was created by celebrated French artist, Jean-Léon Gérôme
- This is the largest of only three sizes cast for the artist by the famed Siot-Decauville foundry
- A celebration of festivity, the sculpture depicts a bacchante, a classical follower of Bacchus
- Gérôme was the foremost Academic painter of the 19th century, and his monumental legacy endures today
- Get complete item description here
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1824-1904 | French
Bacchante à la grappe
(Bacchante with grapes)
Signed "J.L. GÉRÔME" with founders marks
Gilt and patinated bronze with green onyx base
A testament to the genius of Jean-Léon Gérôme, this exquisite gilt and patinated bronze sculpture, Bacchante à la grappe, captures the elegance and classical inspiration that defined the artist’s celebrated career. Gleaming in brilliant gold and beautifully rendered with delicate naturalism, this sculpture epitomizes the virtuoso. . .
1824-1904 | French
Bacchante à la grappe
(Bacchante with grapes)
Signed "J.L. GÉRÔME" with founders marks
Gilt and patinated bronze with green onyx base
A testament to the genius of Jean-Léon Gérôme, this exquisite gilt and patinated bronze sculpture, Bacchante à la grappe, captures the elegance and classical inspiration that defined the artist’s celebrated career. Gleaming in brilliant gold and beautifully rendered with delicate naturalism, this sculpture epitomizes the virtuoso of this French visionary. Sculpted by Gérôme in 1892 and cast by the prestigious Siot-Decauville foundry in Paris, this bronze was created in three sizes, with the present example representing the largest and most commanding scale.
Renowned as the foremost Academic painter of the 19th century, Gérôme transitioned to sculpture in 1878, declaring it a superior medium to painting. This shift allowed him to imbue his classical themes with a newfound vitality, exemplified in this stunning work. The central figure is a bacchante—a devotee of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and festivity—identified by her flowing locks, languid posture, succulent grapes and pine cone-tipped staff, called a thyrsus. Gérôme’s fascination with classical sculptural traditions is also evident here, with the interplay of gilt and patinated finishes highlighting the dynamism and sensuality of the figures.
Born in Vesoul, France, Gérôme trained under renowned Neoclassical painter Paul Delaroche before refining his craft at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. His career blossomed during the mid-19th century as he became a leading figure in Academic art, known for his meticulously detailed historical and Orientalist scenes. He later became a teacher at the École des Beaux-Arts, exhibiting in countless Salons and was actively courted and patronized widely by collectors. Most of Gérôme's works were eventually gifted to major museums and very few reside in private hands, with his magnificent sculptures among the rarest finds on the market.
Circa 1892
On base: 28" high x 9" diameter
Literature:
Similar pictured in G.M. Ackerman, La vie et l'oeuvre de Jean-Léon Gérôme, Paris, 1992, no. S. 25, p. 319

Maker: | Gerome, Jean-Leon |
Period: | 1816-1918 |
Origin: | France |
Type: | Sculpture |
Style: | Academic |
Depth: | 9.0 in. (22.86 cm) |
Width: | 9.0 in. (22.86 cm) |
Height: | 28.0 in. (71.12 cm) |

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Read MoreAt M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.
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