catalog text
JEAN-DIDIER DEBUT
French, 1824-1893
French Orientalist Model of a Janissaire Warrior
Polychromed and patinated bronze | signed "E. Debut", sealed with editeur cachet "Bronze Garanti Au Titre Paris", applied plaque attached "PRIX DE ROME"
Item # 311CSG30P-1
A rather scarce cast of a Janissaire after the original model by Jean-Didier Debut, the sculpture depicts a middle aged warrior loading his musket with a charge. Entirely focused on his task, the man is exquisitely detailed with various pouches slung from his belt before a curved traditional scimitar. The model is finished with the engraved signature noting "E. DEBUT" on the naturalistic base, though this is in error as the model should read "D. DEBUT". It is a known model by Jean-Didier Debut, renowned sculptor and father of the likewise famous Marcel Debut. Both father and son participated in sculpting these brilliant historical caricatures of the East. Each serves as a time-capsule of thought, capturing the understanding and perspective of France as they came to understand the exotic world and culture beyond their borders.
These French Orientalist studies of the Arab and African nations found a large collecting audience in France and England. There was a fascination with what seemed like a timeless and unchanging traditionalism in these rural people that piqued the nostalgia of collectors. The same sentiment that drove collectors to acquire landscape scenes of rural farms and buccolic views of domestic animals in fields, a reaction against the changes brought on by the Industrial Revolution and a desire for simpler times, gave a deep well for artists like Jean Didier Debut to draw upon in preparing studies of the tribal communities of "The Orient". Much of the original material came from travel in Tunisia, which was easily accessible as a French colony and a favorite destination for painters and sculptors.
The present example is a lovely model with an overall medium-brown surface patina, achieved first with a chemical base and then with layers of various pigments laid up on the surface to achieve the complex hues along with parcel gilding and part silvering of the rifle. It is sealed with the editeur cachet on the naturalistic base.
We have many of these wonderful models by Marcel Debut, Jean Didier Debut, Edouard Drouot, Emile Pinedo and Louis Hiolin available, all of roughly the same size and sealed by the same editeur.
Measurements: 15 7/8 H x 4 1/2" D x 4 1/2" W
Condition Report:
A very fine presentation, cleaned and polished, sealed in conservator's grade wax; some rubbing wear patina in a few areas; overall remaining in very good condition, ready to place.