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Názov:
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The Rebel Angel
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Umelec: |
Baron Carlo Marochetti
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There are
other works by Marochetti, often unrealised projects, that have disappeared
without trace, but his Rebel Angel, shown at the Paris Salon of
1831, is perhaps the loss most to be regretted. This is because it would seem
to have indicated a degree of identification with the romantic avant garde at
this moment. Correspondence has recently been coming to light which shows the
degree of intimacy which existed between Marochetti and Eugène Delacroix, whose
Liberty Leading the People, shown at this Salon, was his most
tendentious and modern work, not only to date, but in his entire oeuvre. The
theme of revolt and defiance was also to be found in three other male nude
sculptures at this Salon. These
were the Spartacus of Denis Foyatier, the Icarus of Philippe
Grass, and the Roland furieux of Jean-Bernard ('Jehan') Duseigneur. Since
versions of these three sculptures still exist, we are able to judge the varying
extent to which heightened emotional
content finds expression in their formal vocabulary. Reviewers of this Salon
were very much aware of the threat which romanticism was beginning to pose
to the tail-end of the School of David and the authority of antique exemplars, a
development particularly evident in such subjects as these, so it is unfortunate
that we are unable to make a stylisitic assessment in the case of Marochetti's Rebel
Angel. We have, nonetheless, several contemporary descriptions of it, and its memory can perhaps
be best served by presenting these here in English translation.
The longest
description appears in a review of the sculpture of the Salon, signed
F.P., in the Gazette Nationale ou le Moniteur Universel (15 Aug. 1831):
"Marochetti's Rebel Angel cannot fail to attract the attention of
all, if only because of its colossal dimensions. This fierce enemy of God falls
to earth whilst threatening heaven, and in his fall breaks a tree which he had
hoped to hold on to. This subject is treated poetically. Its author has
particularly shown intelligence in giving indications of the deficiency in the
power of Satan's wings to withstand the terrible force which precipitates him.This
composition, which it would be difficult, or at least extremely expensive, to
execute in marble, and which would hardly be appropriately placed other than on
the summit of a sheer rockface, does not exhibit in all its features a
perfectly studied design; but the imperfection of its details would be diminished
in a more distant view if it were raised to an appropriate viewing point, and
besides it cannot be denied that, in general, it has sufficiently good
effect."
Auguste Jal, in his book on Salon of 1831 (Paris, 1831, p.272), wrote: "The Rebel Angel of M. Marochetti descends whilst hurling a menace at heaven. This composition is sufficiently well understood: there is something grandiose about it. The drawing is lacking in strength; it is round and heavy, especially in the right shoulder. This is not a work without merit; and if there is much that needs seeing to, there is also much to praise".
Victor Schoelcher in the magazine L'Artiste (1831, p.4) commented "Another creation taken from the domain of the supernatural; it is a colossal statue which should not be considered anything other than a sketch; but in which may be detected fire, energy and a great daring of conception".
Another reviewer in L'Artiste (1831, p.246) wrote: "The Rebel Angel of M. Marochetti, another colossal statue, is also a debut. It is said that this statue emanates from the studio of an amateur; but, even if it were the work of an artist, it would deserve praise for the bold manner in which its planes are indicated; but its author deserves one serious criticism; it is totally lacking in balance; and it would not appear to us to be possible to execute it in marble".
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Materiál: |
Plaster
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Zakončenie: |
Unassigned |
Leštidlo: |
- |
Technika: |
Cast |
Štýl: |
Figure, Religious
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Farby: |
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Rok: |
1831 |
Výška: |
0 metres |
Šírka: |
0 metres |
Hĺbka: |
0 metres |
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Kľúč: |
2073 |
Katalógové číslo: |
2073 |
Katalógové číslo: |
2073 |
Počet Videní: |
2596 |
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