Francisque Joseph Duret

FRANCISQUE JOSEPH DURET (France, 1804-1865).
"Neapolitan fisherman dancing".
Patinated bronze.
With De La Fontaine foundry stamp.
Measurements: 44 x 17 x 16,5 cm.

This fisherman, inspired by a Bacchic dancer, has a jovial expression full of life while dancing barefoot on the seabed. Francisque Joseph Duret was especially known for his characteristic and lively bronzes depicting Neapolitan life.

The Delafontaine bronze factory was founded at the end of the 18th century by Jean-Baptiste-Maximilien Delafontaine (b.1750). His son Auguste-Maximilien Delafontaine (French, 1813-1892) took over the company and continued to produce decorative works of art of the highest quality. Delafontaine was one of the main competitors of the Barbedienne foundry.

Francisque Joseph Duret was born in Paris in 1804 and was the son and pupil of François Joseph Duret the Elder (1732-1816). In 1818 he entered the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, where he studied with Bosio. In 1824 he traveled to Italy and from 1831 he sent his first works to the Salon. He exhibited at the Salon from 1831 to 1863 and in 1855 won a first class medal. This model was exhibited at the 1839 Salon. A reduction of it was acquired by the Louvre in 1858 for its permanent collection, that model was also executed by the Delafontaine foundry.