Louis XIV Equestrian Bronze Figure, 19th Century

A French patinated-bronze equestrian figure of Louis XIV, late 19th century, cast after the 1680 model by Francois Girardon (1628-1715) signed 'Girardon 1680' on plinth, the sun King dressed a l'antique on horseback gesturing with his right hand, on a modern moulded wood pedestal, height 43.31 in., width 37.01 in., depth 14.17 in. (not including plinth). Other Notes: the present lot is a reduction, of Francois Girardon's celebrated equestrian model of Louis XIV. Cast by J. Balthasar Keller and weighing over thirty tons, the monumental original was unveiled in the place Louis le grand (later renamed place Vendome) on 13 August 1699. It was subsequently destroyed by the populace during the Revolution in 1792 and only one hoof, now preserved in the Louvre, survived (Martin, Les Monuments Equestres de Louis XIV, Paris, 1986, pp. 92-117), a popular and enduring model, a number of reductions were created in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, including one with similar measurements to the present group in the Louvre which was one of two in Giradon's personal collection until his death, another version in the Royal collection at Windsor castle, and one in the Hermitage, St. Petersburg, the plinth: height 44.88 in., width 38.58 in., depth 25.98 in.