Style Egyptian / Ref.15597

Alexandre FALGUIÈRE (sculptor) and Maison MARNYHAC (foundry), Egyptian Dancer, after 1873

This bronze sculpture by Alexandre Falguière, depicting an Egyptian dancer, was cast by the Marnyhac foundry.

The statue belongs to the Egyptomania trend that swept through the 19^th century. The dancer wears a headdress adorned with a vulture, inspired by depictions of Egyptian queens in antiquity, as well as a broad usekh collar, a hallmark of Egyptian aristocracy. Her bare chest is highlighted by drapery decorated with geometric friezes, cinched at the waist with a winged scarab, the quintessential symbol of Egypt. Her posture is dynamic: one leg steps forward, setting the drapery in motion, while her bare arms appear to draw her body to the side as she prepares to play the cithara. Her head, turned to the left, completes the movement. The artist’s signature is inscribed on the base, along with that of the foundry, accompanied by its first Parisian address. The title of the work is displayed on a plaque affixed to the base of the statue.

Alexandre Falguière (Toulouse, 1831-Paris, 1900) was one of the foremost artists of the 19^th century. After beginning his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts in Toulouse, he worked under Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse and joined the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He won the Prix de Rome in 1859, exhibited regularly at the Salons from 1857 to 1912, and earned a gold medal at the 1878 Paris Exhibition for his “Vainqueur au combat des coqs” (Victor at the Cockfight). Falguière was awarded the Legion of Honor in 1870 and began teaching at the École des Beaux-Arts in 1882.

The Marnyhac company was an art bronze manufacturing and trading enterprise founded by the artist Charles de Marnyhac (1840-1897) around 1865. Competing with the renowned Barbedienne foundry, Marnyhac established a branch in London following its success at the 1871 International Exhibition. The company won a gold medal at the 1878 Exposition Universelle, where it showcased works by Falguière among others, and shifted its focus to producing luxury items. The company ceased operations in 1894.

Our statue reflects the collaboration between Marnyhac and Falguière. The sculptor presented the marble version of his “Danseuse égyptienne” (Egyptian Dancer) at the 1873 Salon. As a jury member, Falguière’s work was not eligible for competition, but it nevertheless drew significant attention from critics, particularly Henry Jouin, who wrote in La Sculpture au Salon de 1873: “The Egyptian Dancer […] is undoubtedly one of the finest works of the Salon. The young and serious expression of her face contrasts with the often overly pretentious smiles that some artists consider a requisite accompaniment to dance. Here, there is no affectation, no coquettish postures. The modest and measured dance performed by this young girl is an art she practices with grace, much like others play music. It is classical dance, and Falguière’s Egyptian bears a certain kinship to the young Greek women of the Panathenaea. […] The upper body is strikingly elegant, and while the flowing folds of her skirt are less restrained than her bodice, they are nonetheless remarkable for the skill of the artist’s chisel. The right arm, drawn across the left, is executed with great naturalism and creates a silhouette of exceptional effect.”

At the time of the 1873 Salon, the statue belonged to Laurent Richard, a prominent collector of contemporary art, who may have commissioned the piece or acquired it shortly after its creation. It remained in his family until 1994, when it was sold at Christie’s along with its original base, adorned with an Egyptian-style low-relief on the front and Egyptian masks on the sides.

This bronze edition, extraordinary in both size and quality, faithfully conveys the image of an exceptional work by one of the most renowned sculptors of the 19^th century.