French school, XIX century.

French School, XIX century.
"Charles IX" and "Henry III".
Pair of busts in patinated plaster.
Models based on originals preserved in the Louvre Museum.
Measurements: 76 x 60 x 35 cm; 75 x 59 x 28 cm.

This pair of busts represents the French monarchs Charles IX (1550-1574) and Henri III (1551-1589), key figures of the Valois dynasty in one of the most complex periods of French history, marked by the wars of religion. Made in the 19th century, the models refer directly to prototypes preserved in the Louvre, within the academic tradition of reproduction and dissemination of historical works that characterized the French taste of the time.

Both sculptures stand out for their portrait-like character and their careful elaboration. Charles IX appears with a youthful face and restrained gesture, wrapped in a rich mantle with wide folds that add dynamism to the composition. Henry III, on the other hand, presents a more mature physiognomy, and a richly decorated clothing that evidences his rank and courtly refinement.

The patinated plaster, treated to imitate noble materials such as stone or bronze, responds to the decorative taste of the 19th century, when these types of pieces were integrated into cultured interiors as evocations of the historical and artistic past.

Because of its scale, presence and quality of modeling, the set offers a strong decorative and narrative dimension, becoming a sculptural dialogue between history, art and representation of power.