Falling Woman [Femme aux deapeaux] by Aimé-Jules Dalou (1897-1902). Bronze with a dark brown patination. Height: 9inches (23 cm). Stamped “AA Hébrard Cire Perdue” and marked “M.” Robert Bowman, London. Photograph by Julian Jans. Another view. [Click on image to enlarge it.]
Commentary by Robert Bowman
In 1883 Dalou presented a monumental relief at the Paris Salon. The work, entitled Fraternité or La République, had its inception in England and was completed on Dalou’s return to France during the early 1880s. The model won Dalou a medal of honour and re-established him back at the centre of the French art world after his time in England.
At the centre of the scheme are two men embracing, flanked” by women, children and other male figures. Above the melee are the figures of Fraternity, Liberty and Equality, supported” by two putti carrying flowers. The figure of Fraternity appears to be diving down towards the figures below, reaching out with her right hand and cascading out of the relief. In the present work, Dalou removes Fraternity from the larger scheme, presenting her as an autonomous sculpture, full of rhythm and movement.
This particularly fine cast is stamped M, denoting that this was the first cast, from which all subsequent casts were made.
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Bibliography
Aimé-Jules Dalou (1897-1902). Online exhibition catalogue. London: Bowman Sculpture, 2014. Web. 29 November 2014.
Last modified 29 November 2014