Ernest Henri Dubois

ERNEST HENRI DUBOIS (Dieppe, 1863-1930).
"Le pardon".
Bronze
Signed. With seal of the Colin foundry.
Measurements: 74 x 53 x 40 cm.

Ernest Henri Dubois offers us in "Le pardon" (Forgiveness) a masterly interpretation of a universal theme - possibly the parable of the Prodigal Son - with an emotional intensity reminiscent of the great masters of French realism. It is a very detailed work. Every sinew, every fold of the skin and the treatment of the hair are executed with impeccable academic precision. The bronze has a deep brown patina with satin highlights that accentuate the volumes. Light slides down the backs of the figures, highlighting the drama of the scene.
Dubois was a French sculptor of great prestige, a disciple of masters such as Chapu and Falguière. He was a member of the Academy of Fine Arts and received the Legion of Honor. His public monuments can be found throughout France, including the Pantheon in Paris. Specialty: He is known for his ability to infuse a great psychological charge into his works, eschewing cheap sentimentality in favor of a classical and powerful dignity.