Jean-Jules Bernard Salmson

Jean-Jules Bernard Salmson (1823-1902)
"Arab warrior", c. 1890
Patinated bronze; "rouge griotte" marble.
Signed
Measurements: 41 cm. (sculpture height); 3 cm. (marble base height)

Imposing sculpture representing an Arab warrior in attitude of vigilance, captured in a moment of tension that underlines his character. The figure stands out for its rich traditional clothing and the careful detail: the draping of the garments, the weapons on the belt and the body posture. Made in patinated bronze, it stands out for the careful patina, where golden reflections of the polished surface of the bronze on the warrior's cloak can be seen, which subtly make their way through.

Executed in the late nineteenth century, it is part of the orientalist taste characteristic of French art of the time, where the figure of the Arab warrior becomes an idealized motif, full of exoticism and evocative of cultures perceived as heroic and timeless.

Trained as a pupil of Auguste-Alexandre Dumont and Claude Ramey, Jean Jules Salmson made his debut at the Paris Salon in 1859, initiating a solid career within the French sculptural panorama of the 19th century. His work was recognized early with the second class medal in 1863 and again in 1867, the year in which he was also named knight of the Legion of Honor. In 1876 he assumed the direction of the École des Arts industriels de Genève, a position in which he excelled notably and from which he contributed decisively to the prestige and development of the institution. In recognition of his career, in 1891 he was appointed corresponding member of the Institut de France.