The Prey; La Proie
- Object:
- Place of origin:
- Date:
1895-1905 (made)
1895 (designed)
- Artist/Maker:
Ledru, Auguste, born 1860 - died 1902 (designer)
Susse Frères (maker)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
- Download image
Auguste Ledru (1860-1902) was a pupil of Dumont, Bonnassieux, Thomas and Boisseaux and he made his debut at the Salon of 1883. Although he can be regarded as a sculptor, his career was principally involved with the decorative arts, designing vases, cups, dinner services and ornamental fountains in plaster, bronze and pewter.
The firm of Susse Frères, which was one of the largest and most successful French bronze foundries in the latter half of the 19th century, manufactured this Ledru-designed vase. It is of patinated bronze, with marine and erotic imagery, cast and applied in high relief. The fully modelled figure of a reclining female nude rests on a rock surrounded by a bed of seaweed. Her face is tilted upwards, her hair tied behind in a chignon, her two arms swept backwards, the right supported on a rock while the left is clutching the trailing tentacle of a large octopus, her left knee is raised and extends over the right thigh. Around the figure and across the surface of the vase are swirling waters, seething with three finned fish and a large octopus clinging to the neck in high relief. The head of the octopus protrudes above the upper rim, its tentacles wrap around the throat of the vessel.
Physical description
Vase of patinated bronze, with marine and erotic imagery, cast and applied in high relief; the body is surmounted by a tall throat and flares and recedes to a circular base with a half, moulded rim. The fully modelled figure of a reclining female nude rests on a rock surrounded by a bed of seaweed on the upper slope of the body of the vase, her face is tilted upwards, her hair tied behind in a chignon, her two arms swept backwards, the right supported on a rock while the left is clutching the trailing tentacle of a large octopus, her left knee is raised and extends over the right thigh. The figure is attached to the wall of the vase by two threaded steel bolts. Around the figure and across the surface of the vase are swirling waters, seething with three finned fish and a large octopus clinging to the neck in high relief. The head of the octopus protrudes above the upper rim, its tentacles wrap around the throat of the vessel.
Place of Origin
Paris, France (made)
Date
1895-1905 (made)
1895 (designed)
Artist/maker
Ledru, Auguste, born 1860 - died 1902 (designer)
Susse Frères (maker)
Materials and Techniques
Patinated bronze
Marks and inscriptions
Ledru
COPYRIGHT / BY / SUSSE FRERES / 1895
Dimensions
Height: 44 cm, Width: 35.4 cm maximum, Diameter: 32.7 cm
Descriptive line
La Proie (The Prey), Vase with marine and erotic imagery, Bronze, Paris 1895-1905, designed by Auguste Ledru, made by Susse Freres
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Susse Frères, 1905 Sales Catalogue, Paris 1905, p.16 ill.
Cadet, Pierre. Susse Frères 150 Years of Sculpture, Paris, Susse Frères 1992, p.206 ill. ISBN 0948308133
Kader, Alexander, The Concentrated Essence of a Wiggle: Art Nouveau Sculpture In Paul Greenhalgh, ed. Art Nouveau 1890-1914 London: Victoria & Albert Museum, 2000 p.253. ill. Publication to accompany the exhibition held at the Victoria & Albert Museum, 6 April - 31 July 2000. ISBN 1851772774
Greenhalgh, Paul Ed., Art Nouveau : 1890 - 1914. London: V&A Publications, 2000. 452p., 16.3pl,
Exhibition History
Art Nouveau - 1890-1914 (Victoria and Albert Museum 06/04/2000-31/07/2000)
Materials
Bronze
Techniques
Cast
Subjects depicted
Octopus
Categories
Metalwork; Vases
Production Type
Limited edition
Collection code
MET
