This sculpture is about 15 1/2" tall and the base is about 5 1/2" wide. The title is: Jesus Devant les Docteurs and is signed Raoul Larche. It is in beautiful condition. There are no imperfections that I can see. It is VERY heavy. There are some other numbers on the back. Maybe they are foundry numbers or serial numbers. SIOT . Paris and 768 (or G) I
This was purchased by my uncle in Orlando in the 70's and my mother inherited it in 2005 when he died. She passed away recently.
The appraised work is a bronze sculpture executed by French artist Raoul-Francois Larche (1860-1912) titled ‘Jesus au Milieu des Docteurs’ (Christ Among the Doctors). The sculpture is titled, signed, and stamped ‘Siot,’ which indicates the foundry as Siot Decauville in Paris, along with an identifying number. The sculpture depicts a full-length figure of Jesus Christ, who appears young and idealized. He wears a simple tunic, and his head is tilted upwards slightly looking toward God and/or the Heavens. Larche was an Art Nouveau sculptor best known for his depictions of figures, both nude and draped, but also functional objects such as lamps and goblets. His sculptures are characterized by fluid lines and swirling forms that were often inspired by dancers, such as Loïe Fuller, a popular entertainer in Paris. Born in 1860 in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, France, Larche went on to study at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris. The sculptor’s work can now be found in the permanent collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the St. Louis Museum of Art, among others. The estimate provided is based on comparables recently offered and sold at auction. In many cases, pricing for similar examples available on the primary (retail) market vary, and are often higher than secondary (auction) market examples.