catalog text
MARCEL DEBUT
French, 1865-1933
French Orientalist Model of a Tunisian Young Man Carrying Water
Polychromed and patinated bronze | signed "Debut", sealed with editeur cachet "Bronze Garanti Au Titre Paris", applied plaque attached "PRIX DE ROME"
Item # 311CSG30P-6
An lovely cast after the original model by Marcel Debut, the present example depicts a young Tunisian man carrying two large pottery vessels of water, walking along a well worn naturalistic path in traditional slippers.
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 non-Western communities 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 gave a deep well for artists like Marcel 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 brick-red patina, achieved first with a chemical base and then with layers of various "secret" pigments laid up on the surface to achieve the complex hues. Numerous pigment hues are introduced to bring subtle distinctions between each of the elements, the skin, the garment, the brilliant ruby hue of his hat and the nearly blackened vessels with their worn bronze handles. It is signed on the base "Debut" in script and is sealed with the editeur cachet.
ARTIST
Born to sculptor Jean Didier Debut in Paris on March 27th of 1865, Marcel Debut studied first with his father and then at the École des Beaux Arts under Henri Chapu. He began to exhibit at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1883, including such works as Sommelier du XVe siècle (1889), Petit Pêcheur au harpon (1893), Actéon (1897), Le Génie des arts (1898), Une gueuse (1905), Watteau (1890), a vase with the theme of Persée et Andromède (1896), Labourage (1898) and L'Hiver (1913). He also executed numerous vases and bas-reliefs, designed some models for Sèvres to manufacture as statuettes and a bronze called Le Fauconnier which was offered at 85 cm in total height. In 1895 he received an honourable mention for his submission. Beyond his sculptures, he also dedicated himself to painting having studied under both Boulanger and Jules Lefebvre at the Academy; these views are often scenes of Paris. He died in 1933.
Artist Listings & Bibliography:
- Bronzes: Sculptors & Founders, 1800-1930, vol. IV, Berman, Abage, 1980, p. 949, ill. 3637
- E. Benezit Dictionary of Sculptors, vol. IV, Gründ, 2006, p. 541
- Bronzes of the 19th Century: A Dictionary of Sculptors, Kjellberg, Schiffer, 1994, p. 266-267
- The Dictionary of Western Sculptors in Bronze, Mackay, Baron, 1977, p. 95
- Art Bronzes, Forrest, Schiffer, 1988, p. 473 [biography]
Measurements: 12 1/2" H x 5 7/8" 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.