BK-1966-3
ca. 1758 - ca. 1762
Medium
bronze (metal)
Dimensions
12.6; 12.6; 12.6; 15.6; 29.5
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
hoogte 29,5 cm (met voetstuk) x breedte 15,6 cm x diepte 12,6 cm
Art Historical Context
This charming bronze sculpture, cataloged as *BK-1966-3* and crafted by Nicolas-François Gillet around 1758–1762, exemplifies the refined artistry of mid-18th-century France Measuring 29.5 cm in height (including its base), 15.6 cm in width, and12.6 cm in depth, its compact scale suggests it was designed as a tabletop ornament or collector's piece, ideal for the elegant interiors of the Rococo period. Gillet, a bronze caster active during the height of the Rococo movement, specialized in small-scale metalworks that captured the era's playful elegance and technical virtuosity. Bronze, valued for its durability and capacity for detailed patination, was cast using sophisticated lost-wax techniques, allowing for intricate surfaces and lifelike forms. Such pieces bridged fine art and decorative objects, reflecting the Enlightenment-era fascination with classical antiquity and naturalism among Europe's cultured elite. Today, *BK-1966-3* invites us to appreciate how these diminutive bronzes embodied luxury and craftsmanship, serving as conversation starters in salons while preserving Gillet's legacy in museum collections.