Lot 201: A BRONZE GROUP OF TWO WRESTLING WOMEN

A BRONZE GROUP OF TWO WRESTLING WOMEN
WORKSHOP OF BARTHELEMY PRIEUR (1536-1611), EARLY 17TH CENTURY
On a later oval marble base; very dark brown patina with lighter high points and traces of a translucent reddish brown lacquer
7¾ in. (19.8 cm.) high; 10 in. (25.4 cm.) overall

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
J. G. Mann, Wallace Collection Catalogues - Sculpture, London, 1931, p. 49, no. S130, pl. 35.
E. Grünenwald, Leonard Kern - Ein Bildhauer des Barock, Schwäbisch Hall, 1969, pp. 47-48, no. 121, pl. 25.

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A series of so-called 'genre' bronzes, previously said to be by the Master of the Genre Figures, are now attributed to the French sculptor Barthélemy Prieur. The present group of two wrestling women is among the compositions attributed to Prieur, of which several examples exist, most notably one in the Wallace Collection, London (Mann, loc. cit.) and a further version sold in these Rooms on 12 December 1996, lot 106. Within 50 years of Prieur composing the original model, Leonard Kern produced a virtually identical group in ivory now housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna (see Grünenwald, loc. cit).