Mary of Burgundy
Modeled before 1844, early cast c. 1850
Jean-Auguste Barre (French, 1811–1896) Cast by Susse Frères, Éditeurs (French, 19th century)
France
Jean-Auguste Barre was celebrated for his statuettes of contemporary celebrities and historical personages. This sculpture is a particularly ambitious example of a small bronze depicting a historical subject. Mary of Burgundy (1457–1482), the daughter and heiress of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, died unexpectedly in a riding accident. Barre depicted the moment just before her tragic fall, as she hunts with a falcon, accompanied by a page. The rich attention to detail on the bronze’s surface contributes to the pictorial nature of the composition.
Bronze