Very beautiful and heavy statue of Auguste Moreau (1834-1917), one of the well-known French artists. The statue is in great condition. There is only a very small crack visible at the top of the arm, but it is not broken! (see final 2 photos) Signed by Aug. Moreau The material used resembles marble, but can also be polished plaster. Dimensions: Height: 57 cm Diameter base: 20.50 cm Diameter at the top of the sculpture: 28 cm Weight 8.50 kg. If desired, you can visit the item before the end of the auction (send us a message via Catawiki). This item can be shipped and picked up after appointment. Given the weight, we prefer collection in order to reduce the risk of damage, but if you prefer shipping, we will of course pack this with the utmost care! In case of pick up: Private pickup only! No courier service as we do not pack the item in case of pick up! Upon collection, you will also pay the shipping costs to Catawiki, but we will refund the shipping costs to your account upon collection! The weight of this lot is 12.50 kilos (packaging included). Insured shipping, including track and trace. Standard delivery to your home address. Pickup (Delivery Point) is also possible. The shipping costs are all-in (transport, packaging) Our items are always packaged very well and with due care. Shipping only due to organisational reasons. No pick-up possible. Please take a look at our other lots as well: https://veiling.catawiki.nl/aanbod/user-7bf2d5b ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ History of Auguste Moreau: Auguste Moreau (1834 - 1917). The story of Auguste Moreau is a family history that begins with his father. Auguste's father, Jean-Baptiste-Louis-Joseph Moreau, was born in Dijon in 1797 where he will also die in 1855. After his training at "l'École des Beaux-Arts de Dijon", he remained a sculptor throughout his life, active in this Burgundian city. In addition to his important oeuvre, he also ensured a successful offspring. Jean Baptist, together with his wife Anne-Marianne Richer, has three sons. All three, Mathurin, Hippolyte-François and Auguste, will follow in their father's footsteps. The three sons studied in Paris at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. Mathurin (1822 - 1912), the oldest of the three, will mainly make large statues that you now can still visit anywhere in Paris. For example, his statue "L'Océanie" can be seen in the square of the Musée d'Orsay. He became a shareholder in France's largest art foundry, Les Fonderies d'Art du Val d'Osne. Hippolyte (1832 - 1926) will mainly produce medium decorative statues in addition to works of art that are also of practical use. He will also make vases, letter openers, bookends and "vide poches" of bronze, white metal and tin. Many of his works are housed in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Dijon. Auguste Moreau (1834 - 1917), the youngest of the three brothers, developed an artistic insight early on. His special style was already evident in his first works. His sculptures were first exhibited in 1861. In the 19th century, Paris was the scene of several world exhibitions. Auguste used one of these exhibitions as a springboard for his artistic success. He can be admired in the "Musée des Beaux-Arts de Troyes" and the "Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux". As a passionate artist, he let his works speak for himself, but he himself remained in the background as a person. That's why little is known about his life. His name has been immortalized on numerous sculptures, but otherwise he was apparently not a great friend of the public. However, his brothers liked to be in the spotlight. So it happened that Hippolyte Moreau (1832-1927) and Mathurin Moreau (1822-1912) decorated their life works with influential prizes, but Auguste did not apply for a vacancy and did not receive any prizes. The artist's self-confidence was clearly high enough not to let his works be officially recognised. His art brought him enough to live from. Auguste may have already had contact points with the style of the Art Deco, but he became one of the most important representatives of Art Nouveau. He used this style by designing delicate figures and busts that seem particularly realistic and detailed. Even now, art connoisseurs are still fascinated by the level of detail displayed by Auguste's works. Auguste's son, Louis Auguste Moreau, (1855-1919) and his brother, Hippolyte-Francois Moreau, founded a partnership "L &F Moreau" together. In this way, they will industrialize the artworks and reproductions in Zamak. Since the statues were taken via the "lost wax" technique, there was a mould with which multiple copies could be made. Zamak (Spelter in English) has been used a lot since the early 20th century for making cast statues. Zamak is a trademark of a group of alloys with zinc as its main component. The alloys have a relatively low melting point of 120 degrees and can be easily cast. So it was a highly sought after substitute of bronze. The name is an acronym, derived from the initial letters of the German names for the metals from which the material is composed: Zinc, aluminium, magnesium, copper (kupfer). The statues reproduced in this way were given the "L & F Moreau" stamp and on top of that is the signature of one of the two brothers, Auguste or Hippolyte-François. After the Hippolyte-François died, the reproduction of the statues continued. Those statues were stamped with "France". It is very important to mention that Auguste and Hippolyte-Francois also have statues of both bronze and Zamak (Spelter) made in their own name. So these statues were not stamped "L & F Moreau", but were awarded the signature "Aug. Moreau" or "Hip. Moreau". There is also a lot of confusion about who a work of art can be attributed to the way they played with the initials of first and middle names. What is certain is that the family consisted of talented artists, but above all they were real entrepreneurs in the art business. (Source: Willox Arts & Antiques)