Friday, November 30, 2012

Pair of Bronze Marly Horses (after Guillaume Coustou)






This impressive pair of Marly Horses are old and very large casts of the Horses of Marly, originally scuplted by Antoine Coysevox and inspired by the statues of Fame and Mercury.  The original horses were commissioned by Louis xiv from Coysevox for the horse pond at Marly.  In 1739, Louis xv commissioned two groups from Guillaume Coustou (Coysevox's nephew) for the Chateau de Marly.  This pair of bronzes (after Coustou 1677-1746) have their original and undisturbed patina.  Each base has the cast signature "Coustou".  They are a truly grand and commanding pair of bronzes.  Each sculpture measures 30" h., 26" l., 13" w.  French, late 19th c. SOLD