catalog text
JEREMIE AIMÉ DELPHIN OCTOBRE
French, 1868-1943
"Eve" (1937)
Lost-wax verdigris and medium-brown patinated bronze | signed in the cast “AIME OCTOBRE 1937”, foundry cachet verso “cire purdue LEBLANC BARBEDIENNE PARIS”, cold-stamped “BRONZE” | cast circa 1943-51
Item # 401ZGW30A
An incredibly moving modernist work in bronze, there is a raw energy in this modeling of the Biblical "Eve" that attracts the viewer to further study. This study captures the mother of all of humanity relaxing in the crook of the earth in paradise, the Garden of Eden providing her a conforming seat that perfectly follows the profile of her body. It examines Eve before the Fall, totally naked and unashamed - but in her arm she cradles an apple and foliage. Presumably taken from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, she rocks it like a child, holding it near to her and staring lovingly on it - the parallels drawn by Octobre between the apple and an infant are interesting and thought-provoking.
A powerful and highly original telling of the story of Eve, the aesthetics of the work speak at least as loudly as the subject itself. The surface is rich with an unusually complex patina ranging from incredible high-chroma greens to naturalistic browns and a full spectrum in between. The texture is frenetic and full of energy; the viewer can almost feel Octobre's fingers working the surface, shifting and moving of the underlying wax as he brought Eve to life. The model was cast by Leblanc-Barbedienne after their merger using the lost-wax method.
In writing about the present model, Rionnet’s research notes that only 4 cire purdue (lost wax) casts were made of this sculpture after the contract was signed on November 10th of 1943 between Daniel Octobre and Maison Barbedienne to produce and sell it for the estate of Octobre. There were 2 additional casts that presumably would have been made using a lower cost metal alloy and executed without the cire purdue method. The 4 cire purdue casts sales include: October 8th of 1943 to Maison LeBoffe à Marseille, in January of 1944 to Salon d'Hiver, in January of 1949 to M. Chausson, and in May of 1951 to M. Guillonneau. The present example is almost certainly one of those 4 casts, an exceedingly fine and rare example of Octobre's work.
JÉRÉMIE AIMÉ DELPHIN OCTOBRE
Jérémie Aimé Delphin Octobre, known as Aimé Octobre, was born in Angles-sur-Anglin France on May 13th of 1868. He studied as a pupil under Gauthier, Cavelier and Coutan. An important jump-start for his career, Octobre won the highly coveted Prix de Rome in 1893.
He was recognized with Honourable Mention at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1894 and followed that up with a third-class medal in 1896, a second-class medal in 1897 and a first class medal in 1899. He was awarded a silver medal at the Exposition Universelle of 1900 in Paris and officially joined the Salon des Artistes Français in 1901, where he would later become a member of its committee.
In 1906 he was made a Chevalier of the Légion of Honneur and in 1925 he was made an officer. His ouevre includes the war memorials for Châtellerault, La Couarde, Lusignan and Poitiers. He produced busts of Didot, Didot-Bottin, Professor Ternier and of Charles Vavasseur.
Notably, his marble sculpture of Nymph is held in the permanent collection of the Museé d'Orsay, while the Louvre holds one of his paintings. His sculpture of Remorse is held in the permanent collection of the Museum du Petit Palais.
Artist Listings & Bibliography:
- Les Bronzes Barbedienne L’oeuvre d’une Dynastie De Fondeurs, Rionnet, 2016, p. 379
- The Dictionary of Western Sculptors in Bronze, Mackay, 1977, p. 281
- E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, vol. X, Gründ, 2006, p. 522
Measurements: 14 1/2" H x 24" W x 6 7/8" D
Condition Report:
Very fine condition with only the most minor patina wear. An extraordinary presentation - carefully cleaned, sealed in conservator's grade wax, polished and ready to place.