Nineteenth Century Bronze Sculpture entitled “Marguerite” signed Eugene Aizelin (1821-1902)

Bronze statue representing Marguerite in Renaissance dress, carrying a prayer book in her hands. Signed by the artist Eugene Aizelin (1821-1902) and stamped by the nineteenth century Barbedienne Foundry in Paris.  Eugène-Antoine Aizelin was born July 8, 1821 in Paris and died March 4, 1902.  The French sculptor Eugène Aizelin was the son of Claude-Jacques Aizelïn, a draftsman. He entered the École des Beaux-Arts in 1844 where he studied with sculptors Jules Ramey and Auguste Dumont. He participated in the Salons from 1852 to 1897 and in the Universal Exhibitions of 1878, 1889 and 1900. He won several awards: a third place medal at the Salon of 1859, a second place medal in 1861, a third place medal at the World’s Fair of 1878.  The group of sculptures representing Mignon was exhibited for the first time in plaster at the 1880 Salon, then in marble the following year and finally in bronze at the 1889 World's Fair for which he was awarded a gold medal. At the same time, he received commissions for Parisian monuments: the Théâtre du Châtelet, the Opéra Garnier, the Hôtel de Ville in Paris, the Palais du Louvre and the churches of Trinité and Saint-Roch. His works are published in bronze by the Barbedienne foundry in several dimensions. He was appointed knight of the Legion of Honor in 1867, and officer of the same order in 1892.

Marguerite (1492-1549), also known as Marguerite de Navarre, was the princess of France, Queen of Navarre, and Duchess of Alencon and Berry.  She was married to Henri II of Navarre.  She was the sister of King Francois I, the renowned Renaissance king of France.  She and her brother Francois I were responsible for the intellectual and cultural rebirth in France of their day.  As an author and patron of the arts, she was an outstanding figure of the French Renaissance and the most influential woman in France during her lifetime.  Marguerite befriended and protected many artists, writers, and reformers of her day who were often persecuted for their humanist views.  She wrote many poems and plays.  Her most notable works are a classic collection of short stories, The Heptameron, and a very intense religious poem, Miroir de l’ame pecheresse (Mirror of the Sinful Soul.)  This poem was a mystical narrative of the soul as a yearning woman calling out to Christ as her father-brother-lover. 

32" H X 10.25" W X 11" D