Étienne Maurice FALCONET (1716-1791), after. - Lot 105

Étienne Maurice FALCONET (1716-1791), after. PIERRE LE GRAND. Spectacular GOLDEN BRONZE figure representing the CAVALIER DE BRONZE or CAVALIER D'AIRAIN, also known as the MONUMENT À PIERRE LE GRAND, depicting Emperor Peter the Great (1672-1725), finely chiseled as Caesar, on horseback, right arm raised (pointing to the Neva), his mount rearing up and crushing the serpent of betrayal with its hind limbs. The whole rests on a large malachite monolith applied on either side with gilded bronze elements reading in Latin and Cyrillic the dedication: "Petro Primo/Catharina Secunda/1782". Russian work of the 19th century. Height: 35.5 cm. Length: 30 cm. Depth: 16 cm. (Missing but good condition). History: This equestrian statue of Peter the Great, standing on today's Place du Sénat, was inaugurated during the reign of Empress Catherine II (1729-1796), who wished to honor her glorious predecessor. Although the work is attributed to the sculptor Étienne-Maurice Falconet (1716-1791), the face of Peter the Great is by the artist Marie-Anne Collot (1748-1821), who accompanied her master, Falconet, on his trip to Russia in 1766. She modeled the late emperor's face after his death mask and various portraits she found in St. Petersburg. The statue, originally cast in 1775 by Emelian Khaïlov, was not completed until 1777 due to a casting accident. It was unveiled on August 7, 1782, but without the artist, who had returned to France four years earlier.