David Slaying Goliath Large Figural Bronze Statue by Antonin Mercie (1845-1916)

Marius-Jean-Antonin Mercie
French, 1845-1916
Bronze

19th Century

44.5 x 13 x 10 in. (113 x 33 x 25.4 cm.)

The base marked "A. Mercie" and "506 F. Barbenienne, Fondeur, Paris" ad "A. Collas" "Reduction Mecanique."

The dazzling David, a prolific subject amongst sculpture artists beginning in the renaissance; this later version by Antonin Merice undoubtedly builds upon the tradition of David in statuature that came before. Inspired by Donatello's famous depiction of David, Merice portrays the biblical figure moments after his triumphal defeat of Goliath in a divine, rich brown bronze. Mercie chooses to showcase David placing his sword back into its scabbard, symbolizing the end of his battle with the beast. Standing in contrapposto, the young man is not cladly nude like the story in the bible tells us, but wears a small fabric wrap around the hips and a second around his head. The skillful bronze casting of the statue done by the Achille Collas foundry, the co owner of the Barbedienne foundry, is superb, with the blade of the sword containing only one anchor point, which only a truly skillful foundry could produce a bronze such as this.