Charles Bertault (19th-20th Century), "bronze Medallion With The Effigy Of Ferdinand Barbedienne". 1884.

Bronze medallion with the effigy of Ferdinand Barbedienne, famous French bronzier and master of Charles Bertault. Titled: A. Mr. F. BARBEDIENNE. PARIS. MDCCCLXXXIV. Signed: Ch. Bertault and dated: 1884. Medal patina.
Diameter (at sight) 22 cm, thickness (at sight) 2 cm. The medallion is placed in an oak frame (restored) adorned at each corner with yellow copper finials. Dimensions of the frame: 28 x 29 cm.
Charles Bertault, french sculptor and founder, born in Saint-Amand-Longré in the Loir et Cher in the second half of the 19th century. As an art bronzier, he trained with Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892) in Paris, then with Félix Chopin in Saint Petersburg. Chopin (1817-1892) passed on his business to him when he left Russia and returned to France. Under the leadership of Bertault, more of an artist than a businessman, the firm had its ups and downs. The high quality of its production explains the high prices of the bronzes that come out of Bertault's workshops. In 1903, when he received a number of international awards, he threw in the towel and returned to France where he continued his career. The medallion we are offering was sculpted in 1884. It is Bertault's tribute to his master Barbedienne. Few known copies. One of them remained in the model's family. Another has been kept since 2005 at the Musée D'Orsay (inventory number rf 4726).
Bibliography: Héran, Emmanuelle, 48/14 The review of the Musée d'Orsay, Meeting of national museums, Paris, 2006