Two-light wall bracket

Antoine-André Ravrio

ca. 1804–14 · Gilt bronze · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

This crowned and bearded mask of an old man bears the inventory number of the Palais des Tuileries. One of a pair, this wall sconce was, according to the 1833 inventory, in the pavillon de la Conciergerie in the apartment of Emmanuel-Louis-Nicolas Viollet-Le-Duc, keeper of the palace and father of the famous architect Eugène Emmanuel. An elongated ornament pendent from the palmette motif between the two branches is missing. This ornament is still present on a similar wall light, one of a pair that was supplied in 1808 to the château de Fontainebleau by bronze caster and chaser Ravrio who was most likely also responsible for the Museum’s wall sconce. Ravrio worked for the French court before the Revolution and later for Napoleon.

Artist

Antoine-André Ravrio

Date

ca. 1804–14

Medium

Gilt bronze

Culture

French, Paris

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1906