Items Similar to Gaston Leroux Bronze Figure of Aida on a Sphinx, French, 19th Century
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 20
Gaston Leroux Bronze Figure of Aida on a Sphinx, French, 19th Century
About the Item
Gaston Leroux (French, 1854-1942). A very fine French 19th century polychromed and patinated bronze sculpture of "Aida" resting on a sphinx, her legs crossed and holding a gilt-bronze tambourine, after the model by Gaston Veuvenot Leroux "Aida, A Femme Au Tambourin Assise Sur Une Tete De Sphinx". Signed: Gaston Leroux, Paris, circa 1890.
Measures: Height 29 inches (74 cm).
Width 15 inches (38.1 cm).
Depth 15 inches (38.1 cm).
The opulent and extensively detailed version of Aida was inspired by ethnographic findings of the mid-19th century in ancient Egypt as well as the influences of theatre and costume design. Travelers to the East had often recorded their journeys, either in writing or in pictures, but the movement of Egyptomania was wider-reaching than Egyptology. The immensely popular vogue of Egyptomania is without doubt due to the success of performing arts in recreating this era, in particular, Giuseppe Verdi's Aida. Both the Cairo and Paris premieres created sensations so large that they influenced generations of artists from Alexander Cabanel to Cecil de Mille. In Aida, the ruins of Egypt were brought back to life in full color and scale before the eyes of a generation that would make history as romantics, adventurers and explorers.
The Cairo premier of Aida was entirely conceived by one of the foremost Egyptologists of the day, Auguste Mariette, who was assigned to the project by Khedive Ismail Pasha himself. His involvement with the set and costumes contributed to the success of the piece. Verdi, who had twice turned down the Khedive's invitation, was inspired by Mariette's synopsis of the opera delivered to him in 1870, and agreed to compose the music for the work. Mariette's primary concern was the challenge of transforming two dimensional hieroglyphs and large stone statues into characters on a stage. In one of his letters dated Paris, 15 July 1870, he states: 'Finding the proper balance, through studying the ancient costumes discovered in the temples and adapting them to the demands of the modern stage, is a delicate task. A king may be quite majestic in granite with a huge crown on his head, but when we endow him with flesh and blood, and have him walk and sing, it may get awkward and embarrassing. We must be wary of one thing ... provoking laughter'. Mariette's final costumes for Aida were a satisfying re-creation of ancient Egyptian attire and his marvelous sets transported the spectators at the Cairo premiere to the time and land of the pharaohs, which is why the preparations revolving around the 1880 Paris premiere were so highly anticipated. For the Paris opening, Pierre-Euge`ne Lacoste was responsible for designing the costumes. He was a more experienced designer than Mariette and his costumes for the opera were better-fitted, carefully researched and more authentic. Artists inspired by the Egyptian revival collaborated extensively and demonstrated the possibilities of mixing styles. Costume and jewelry designers such as the Castellani Workshops influenced painters such as Edwin Long and Lawrence Alma-Tadema as well as sculptors such as Emile-Louis Picault and Gaston Leroux.
- Attributed to:Gaston Vuevenot Leroux (Sculptor)
- Dimensions:Height: 29 in (73.66 cm)Width: 15 in (38.1 cm)Depth: 15 in (38.1 cm)
- Style:Egyptian Revival (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1890
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. A truly beautiful and very high quality Orientalist sculpture of Aida. Minor rubbing and wear consistent with age and use. A beautiful brown and green patina. In original condition.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
Established in 1982
1stDibs seller since 2016
113 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Los Angeles, CA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
More From This SellerView All
- 19th Century Lifesize Bronze Bust of Othello after Gaston Veuvenot LerouxBy Gaston Vuevenot LerouxLocated in Los Angeles, CAA large and impressive French 19th century life-size bust depicting Othello, the North African Moor of Venice character in the 1603 play written by William Shakespeare (1564-1616), a...Category
Antique 19th Century French Moorish Busts
MaterialsBronze
- After Gaston Leroux French 19th Century Bronze Sculpture of RebeccaBy Gaston Veuvenot LerouxLocated in Los Angeles, CAA fine French 19th-20th century orientalist silvered and gilt patinated bronze sculpture of "Rebecca" with a plaque that reads "Jeune Fille Arabe" (A Young Arab Girl - Water-Carrier)...Category
Antique Early 1900s French Greco Roman Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
- French 19th Century Bronze Military Figure of "Blandan" after Jean GautherinBy Jean GautherinLocated in Los Angeles, CAA very fine French 19th century patinated bronze figure of the French hero of the Algerian conquest, Jean-Pierre Hippolyte Blandan (1819-1842) after the French Sculptor Jean Gautheri...Category
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
- Fine Pair of French 19th Century Gilt and Patinated Bronze Figural CandelabraBy Claude Michel ClodionLocated in Los Angeles, CAA fine pair of French 19th century gilt bronze and patinated bronze figural four-light candelabra, each modeled as a baby Bacchus, in the form of a child faun, seated on tree trunk a...Category
Antique 19th Century French Baroque Candelabras
MaterialsMarble, Bronze
- Fine French 19th Century Bronze Figure of "Milo of Croton & Lion" After FalconetBy Étienne Maurice FalconetLocated in Los Angeles, CAA very fine French 19th century Patinated bronze Figure of "Milo of Croton and the Lion" after the marble sculpture of Milon de Crotone by renown French...Category
Antique 19th Century French Baroque Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsMarble, Bronze
- Pair of French 19th-20th Century Neoclassical Style Cast Iron Figural TorchèresLocated in Los Angeles, CAA very fine pair of French 19th-20th century neoclassical style patinated cast iron figural torchères by A. Durenne, Paris, each representing a figure of a standing young maiden, her arms raised forward while holding a a flaming urn gas light (Now electrified) with a frosted glass flame, each raised on a veined grey marble column stand, both cast-signed 'A. Durenne, Paris'. Antoine Durenne was an internationally renowned French art founder. He attended École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in 1842. Durenne purchased a small foundry in Sommevoire, near the Val d'Osne, Haute-Marne, France and established The Durenne firm, circa Paris, 1900. Cast-iron had been in production during the 18th century but its inferior status to the more fashionable and delicate wrought iron had generally confined its use to architectural work. By the early 19th century, however, rapid developments of the Industrial Revolution combined with the simultaneous burgeoning of a new middle class provided the impetus for a dramatic Expansion in its application and in a short space of time a proliferation of iron foundries across Europe and America thrived on the production of everything from inkstands to railway stations. The use of cast-iron for garden ornament became particularly widespread at this time, as the possibilities for its mass-production at a fraction of the cost of bronze made it the material of choice for outdoor statuary...Category
Antique Early 1900s French Neoclassical Revival Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsMarble, Iron
You May Also Like
- Two-Tone Patinated Bronze Sculpture by G. Leroux Depicting AidaBy Gaston LerouxLocated in London, GBTwo-tone patinated bronze sculpture by G. Leroux depicting Aida French, Late 19th Century Height 75cm, width 33cm, depth 35cm This sensational bronze sculpture is cast after an ori...Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Egyptian Revival Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsBronze
- Late 19th Century Bronze Winged Sphinx Statuette Red Griotte MarbleLocated in Casteren, Noord-BrabantAn antique small bronze sculpture of a winged Sphinx, on a red "Griotte" marble plinth. The statue is quite refined, with a nice golden color and old patina. Decorative piece that a...Category
Antique 1880s French Egyptian Revival Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsGriotte Marble, Bronze
- 19th Century, Bronze Sphinx SculpturesLocated in Newport Beach, CAPair of exceptional, hand-cast, French, parcel-gilt bronze sphinxes on newer, beveled marble bases.Category
Antique 19th Century French Sculptures
MaterialsMarble, Bronze
- Antique Regency period bronze figure of a Sphinx on a Sienna marble baseLocated in London, GBA mid-19th Century well-cast Model of the Sphinx of Giza mounted on veined marble base.Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English Egyptian Revival Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsMarble, Bronze
- Pair of French 19th Century Gilt & Patinated Bronze Sphinxes on Porphyry & BronLocated in Hudson, NYMade in France circa 1840s this finely cast pair of sphinxes are represented in the recumbent position most associated with the form. Showing on both figures are two hieroglyphic car...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorphyry, Bronze
- 19th Century French Bronze Figure of NapoleonLocated in London, GBAn early 19th Century well-cast bronze statue of Napoleon in full uniform, standing on square socle with applied ormolu laurel leaf wreath, ending o...Category
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsBronze, Ormolu
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Antique French Letters
Antique Jewellery Designers
Antique Jewelry Designer
Antique Jewelry Designers
19th Century Theatre
Egyptian Legs
Huge 19th Century French
19th Century Decorative Gilt Crown
French Balance Scales
Gilt Bronze Cross
Antique Scales And Balances
Gold Pasha
Model Of A Temple
Polychrome Jewelry
Antique Egyptian Revival Jewelry
19th Century Balancing Scale
Modern Tete A Tete
Egypt King