catalog text
ETIENNE-HENRI DUMAIGE
French, 1830-1888
"Camille Desmoulins at the Palais Royal" (1882)
Sand-cast patinated bronze | signed in base "H. DUMAIGE" | conceived in 1882, executed circa 1890
stock ref. C104802
38 1/8" H x 11 7/16" D x 11 5/16" W
Essay
Exhibited in plaster at the Salon of 1882 (no. 4331), Dumaige's statue of Camille Desmoulins has become well-regarded as one of his most powerful compositions. The original was given by Dumaige to the Musée de Rouen. It captures Desmoulins delivering his powerful and poignant call to arms before the Bastille storming, the drama of the scene almost operatic as he knocks the chair over behind him, grasping the loose pages of his speech in his closed fist while he loses himself in the rhetoric.
Camille Desmoulins was a French journalist, lawyer, and revolutionary, recognized for his pivotal role in the French Revolution. Born in Guise, France, he studied law at the Collège Louis-le-Grand in Paris, where he befriended future revolutionary leaders, including Maximilien Robespierre. Desmoulins gained prominence on July 12, 1789, when his impassioned speech at the Palais-Royal incited the storming of the Bastille two days later, marking a critical moment in the Revolution.
As a journalist, Desmoulins founded and edited Les Révolutions de France et de Brabant, a radical publication that criticized the monarchy and aristocracy. His writing was instrumental in shaping revolutionary sentiment, blending incisive political critique with populist rhetoric. Despite his early radicalism, Desmoulins later advocated for moderation during the Reign of Terror, aligning himself with the Dantonist faction. This shift ultimately led to his downfall.
Arrested alongside Georges Danton in 1794, Desmoulins was accused of counter-revolutionary activities. He was tried, convicted, and executed by guillotine on April 5, 1794. Desmoulins' contributions to revolutionary thought and his tragic fate exemplify the volatility and ideological conflicts of the French Revolution.
The present example is a complex sand-cast sculpture in bronze cast after the model by Dumaige and finished in a very dark-brown surface patina. It is signed in the base "H. DUMAIGE" and retains an early gilt plaque on the front with the title referenced.
Condition:
Carefully cleaned, sealed and polished by our in-house studio. Overall remaining in good original condition with a tiny loss to one of the buttons on his socks, light wear to the patina and minor scuffs/abrasions from the years. A powerful presentation.
Biography
Étienne-Henri Dumaige was a French sculptor active during the mid-to-late 19th century, known for his contributions to public monuments and small-scale works in bronze. Born to Louis-Gabriel Dumaige, a professional gilder, and Françoise Marcillot in Paris on March 30th of 1830, he trained under Jean-Jacques Feuchère and gained recognition for his skill in creating dynamic and detailed figures.
Dumaige exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon from 1863 through 1886, receiving acclaim for works that often depicted historical, allegorical, and genre subjects. In 1880 he was awarded a second-class medal. He is best known for his statue of François Rabelais (Paris Salon of 1880, no. 6290), his statue of Camille Desmoulins (Paris Salon of 1882, no. 4331) and the statue of Pierre-Antoine Berryer, which is prominently placed on the facade of the Paris City Hall.
He contributed to public commissions, including sculptures for architectural settings and commemorative monuments. His works remain examples of the lively naturalism characteristic of French sculpture in the 19th century. Dumaige's smaller bronzes are highly regarded by collectors and often display a refined attention to detail. He died in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vié in Vendée on March 31st of 1888.
References:
- E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, vol. IV, Gründ, 2006, p. 1313-1314
- Dictionnaire des Sculpteurs de L'École Française, Vol. II, Stanislas Lami, Kraus, 1916, p. 238-239