Lot 418: Arthur-Marie-Gabriel, Comte du Passage 1838-1909 Le contrebandier (The Smugler) bronze, rich dark brown patina

bronze, rich dark brown patina, signed A. du Passage.

measurements height: 24 in. alternate measurements 61 cm

Kjellberg, Pierre, Bronzes of the 19υth century, Dictionary of Sculptors, Paris, 1994, p. 531 for the illustration of the present model.

Arthur-Marie-Gabriel, Comte du Passage developed a fascination for horses at an early age and went on to make them the central theme of his oeuvre. He initially pursued a military career in accordance with his family's wishes, but took time out of his duties to study sculpture with two of the foremost animalier sculptors of his day; Antoine-Louis Barye and Pierre-Jules Mne. Du Passage belonged to a group of nineteenth Century aristocratic sculptors who turned their own hand to the medium they so admired. Another such was Geoffrey, Comte de Ruille who also concentrated on animal subjects.