Bidspirit auction | D´ ANGERS DAVID: (1788-1856)

D´ ANGERS DAVID: (1788-1856) - D´ANGERS DAVID: (1788-1856) Pierre-Jean David. French sculptor and medalist. An interesting A.L.S., David d´Angers , two pages, small 4to, Paris, 5th March 1844, to Monsieur Brunette, in French. The sculptor writes to provide information his correspondent had requested ´ pour la statue que la ville de Rheims se propose d'élever au ministre Colbert´ (Translation: ´ regarding the statue that the city of Reims intends to erect in honour of Minister Colbert´ ) and explains ´ La dimension de la figure n'étant pas irrévocablement fixée les prix surtout pour le marbre et le bronze ne peuvent être qu'approximatifs car ils varient beaucoup par les différences de proportion´ (Translation: ´ As the dimensions of the figure have not yet been definitively determined, the prices—particularly for marble and bronze—can only be approximate, as they vary considerably depending on the proportions´ ), further adding ´ Le prix d'une statue de 12 pieds serait de 35 000 fr. dont 20 000 pour le statuaire et 15 000 pour l'achat du bloc. Je ne puis assurer que ce dernier prix ne soit pas au-dessous de sa valeur. Les statues du pont de la Concorde nous étaient payées 20 000 fr. par le gouvernement qui fournissait le marbre et l'atelier nécessaire pour l'exécution d'un pareil travail´ (Translation: ´ The price of a 12-foot statue would be 35,000 francs, of which 20,000 would go to the sculptor and 15,000 towards the purchase of the block of stone. I cannot guarantee that the latter price is not below its true value. The government paid us 20,000 francs for the statues on the Pont de la Concorde, having supplied the marble and the workshop required to carry out such work´ ) and citing an example, ´ La statue de Riquet pour Béziers (de 12 pieds) a coûté 28 000 f. de fonte, celle de Corneille pour Rouen (de la même proportion) en a coûté 36 000 fonte seule. Je sais que les prix des fondeurs sont abaissés maintenant et l'exécution du modèle s’élèverait à 12 000 f.´ (Translation: ´ The statue of Riquet for Béziers (12 feet tall) cost 28,000 francs for the casting; that of Corneille for Rouen (of the same size) cost 36,000 francs for the casting alone. I know that foundries’ prices have now fallen, and the cost of producing the model would amount to 12,000 francs´ ) as well as providing details of the cost of a smaller statue, ´ Pour une statue en marbre de 6 pieds, le gouvernement donna 12 000 f. et fournit le marbre. Le prix d'un modèle de statue de cette proportion, pour le bronze serait de 8 000 f. et la fonte pourrait être de 10 à 12 mille francs´ (Translation: ´ For a 6-foot marble statue, the government paid 12,000 francs and supplied the marble. The cost of a model for a statue of this size, in bronze, would be 8,000 francs, and the casting could run to between 10,000 and 12,000 francs´ ). With integral address leaf. A letter of good content relating to the costs of creating a statue, in terms of both materials and artistic labour. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG Narcisse Brunette (1808-1895) French architect who was appointed as the municipal architect in Reims in 1838. During nearly four decades in the post he directed a remarkable range of municipal works, including restorations of churches, the Hôtel de Ville, the lycée, markets, schools, the circus and the manège. He was also deeply interested in the city's Roman remains and produced his important 1846 plan of ancient Reims, based partly upon archaeological discoveries made during his municipal works. Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619-1683) French statesman, a native of Reims, who served as First Minister of State of France 1661-83 under the rule of King Louis XIV. In 1844 the mayor of Reims, Paul de Saint-Marceaux, initiated a project to commemorate Colbert. A competition was held for a statue, eventually awarded to the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Claude Eugène Guillaume (1822-1905).