F.Duret – Young Fisherman dancing the Tarantella and Neapolitan Dancer – Quesnel Edition.

A pair of bronze sculptures with nuanced brown patinas, depicting the Young Fisherman Dancing the Tarantella and the Neapolitan Dancer with a Tambourine, two of the most emblematic works of the sculptor Francisque Joseph Duret (1804-1865). Cast by the prestigious Parisian foundry Quesnel, these sculptures perfectly illustrate the revival of French Romantic sculpture in the first half of the 19th century.

A student of François-Joseph Bosio at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Francisque Duret won the Grand Prix de Rome in 1823. His time in Italy profoundly influenced his work. Fascinated by Naples, its inhabitants, their costumes, and their folk dances, he drew new inspiration from it, moving away from strict academicism to create compositions full of naturalism, movement, and life.

The Young Fisherman Dancing the Tarantella, exhibited at the Salon of 1833, was an immediate success. Admired for the accuracy of its anatomy, the balance of its composition, and the spontaneity of its pose, the work was acquired by the State, and the monumental model is now housed in the Louvre Museum. Duret continued this Italian inspiration with the Neapolitan Dancer with a Tambourine, exhibited at the Salon of 1838, conceived as a counterpart to the Young Fisherman. Both figures celebrate youth, music, and dance in a profoundly Romantic style where movement becomes one of the principal means of expression.

These models were produced by Quesnel, one of the most important Parisian art foundries of his time. After operating under the name Richard & Quesnel, the firm continued its activities under the sole name of Quesnel from 1836 onward. It collaborated with several of the greatest French sculptors, including David d'Angers, James Pradier, François Rude, Antoine-Louis Barye, and Francisque Duret. The bibliography reports that Quesnel notably obtained the publishing rights to *The Young Fisherman Dancing the Tarantella* and *The Neapolitan Dancer*, before their acquisition by Delafontaine around the mid-1850s. These sculptures, both marked "Quesnel founder," are thus among the earliest editions of these celebrated models.

*The Young Fisherman Dancing the Tarantella* also bears the incised signature "F. Duret" on the plinth. *The Neapolitan Dancer* is likewise marked "Quesnel founder" on the base.

This pair is remarkable for the exceptional quality of its casting and chasing. The anatomies are rendered with great finesse, the draperies retain all their suppleness, and the accessories—fishing net, tambourine, and plant elements—attest to particularly meticulous execution. The poses, remarkably balanced, reflect Duret's talent for capturing movement with naturalness and elegance.

Both bronzes retain their original brown patina, which is particularly beautiful and richly nuanced. Only a few minor, old deformations are visible on the bases, without affecting their stability or their overall appearance.

Through their quality of execution, their provenance, and their essential place in the oeuvre of Francisque Duret, these two bronzes constitute a remarkable example of 19th-century French Romantic sculpture.

Dimensions:

- Young Fisherman Dancing the Tarantella: 44 cm high.

- Neapolitan Dancer with a Tambourine: 43 cm high.

Bibliography:
Pierre Kjellberg, Les Bronzes du XIXᵉ siècle, Les Éditions de l'Amateur, pages 304-305.

Ref: RXX2NPJITZ