Édouard-Guy du Passage and Édouard Drouot

ÉDOUARD-GUY, COUNT DU PASSAGE (Paris, 1872–1925) and ÉDOUARD DROUOT (Sommevoire, 1859–Paris, 1945).
"Rooster on Military Trophies." France, early 20th century.
Gilded bronze on a green marble base.
Signed on the base “Cte du Passage. Drouot.”
In good condition. Features a patina consistent with its age. Base shows slight signs of wear.
Measurements: 30 × 21 × 12 cm.

The work features a distinct allegorical iconography through the figure of a rooster standing atop a collection of weapons, banners, and military regalia. The rooster, modeled with particular attention to its plumage and posed in a commanding stance, serves as the visual focal point of the composition and has hallmarks of dynamic arrangement compared to the elements on the base.

The rooster has a long-standing symbolic association with France and gained particular prominence as an emblem during the Third Republic, a circumstance that allows the composition to be situated within the French patriotic repertoire developed between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The gilded finish and the green marble pedestal reinforce the decorative and commemorative nature of the ensemble.

Édouard-Guy du Passage, son of the well-known animal sculptor Arthur du Passage, also focused his work on animals, equestrian subjects, and hunting scenes. Édouard Drouot was a French sculptor and painter, particularly devoted to allegorical and mythological themes; the Musée d’Orsay documents his work in the fields of sculpture, painting, and the decorative arts.