Lot 771: "Le Bucheron", an imposing 19th Century cast bronze figure Louis-Léopold Chambard (1811-1895)

Louis-Léopold Chambard (1811-1895)
Modelled as a sparsely-robed male figure, breaking a stick upon his raised right knee, on a circular base, the spreading apron with applied cartouche-shaped plaque engraved "LE BUCHERON / FABLE / DE LA FONTAINE", 87cm high on original ebonised cylindrical plinth, 117cm high overall, (2)

See Kjellberg, Pierre, bronzes of the 19th Century, Schiffer Publishing Co., 1994, p.199, where stated:
Chambard was awarded the first Grand Prize for sculpture in 1837, presenting at the Parisian Salon in various years from 1841 to 1882. he worked for the City hall and the Louvre amongst others. "A 104cm high bronze entitled Le Bucheron was sold in London by Sotheby on June 7, 1984".

Jean de La Fontaine (1621–1695) was the most famous French poets of his age. He published his first edition of 124 Fables, owing a debt to the classical poetry of such authors as Aesop, in 1668, to public acclaim. Despite this, he was twice refused election to the Academie Francaise, the second time due to direct interference by Louis XIV.