French Art Deco Bronze Retiary Sculpture, 1875

FRENCH BRONZE  RETIARY SCULPTURE - Ref 19513

by Edmé-Anthony-Paul NOEL, known as Tony Noël

France, ca.1875

RETIARY

Height : 21.85"(55.5cm), Width : 19.5"(49.6cm), Depth : 10.6"(27cm)

Signed "Tony Noël" on the base (see photo)

Condition : very good

contact : Laetitia@artdecoceramicglasslight.com

This sculpture is one of the editions of the work which, presented in plaster (n°3074), won the first class medal at the Salon of 1874.

As Henry Jouin (1841-1913), an art historian specializing in sculpture, rightly wrote, "plaster is used by the sculptor, but it is like clay, a transitional material. Any plaster figure presupposes a model that preceded it, a work that will follow it. Plaster is useful." It is therefore not surprising that Tony Noël represented it at the Salon of 1875 (n°3306), this time in bronze, cast by Matifat, and 110 cm high.

The City of Paris then acquired it and placed it in the Square du Temple in 1877.

Unfortunately, the Second World War was fatal to it: it was melted down like many other Parisian statues in 1942, by the Vichy Regime. 

Leaning strongly forward, arms carried from left to right, ready to throw the net, head turned towards his opponent, gaze fixed on him, the Retiarius, powerfully muscular, all his strength concentrated, is ready for action.

Wearing a headband, he neither wore the ordinary tunic of the retiaries, nor the subligaculum (a sort of short pants). He simply wears a leather belt.

Nor did he wear the galerus, a flexible shoulder shield, on his left shoulder. To better handle the net, he got rid of his manica, supposed to protect his left forearm from his opponent's sword blows.

Barefoot, he is in contact with the sand of the arena. He also does not wear his pugio, this small dagger that the retiary only draws in the final combat. However, very often, retiaries do not bother with it.

Raw force in all its expression and power.