F. Barbedienne, Fondeur
The Paris foundry of Barbedienne is generally considered to be the premier nineteenth century foundry for bronze sculpture. It was founded in 1838 by Ferdinand Barbedienne and Achille Collas, who had invented a mechanism to mechanically reduce statues.
At first the Barbedienne foundry made bronze reductions of Greek and Roman antique sculptures. In 1843 they added the first living artist, Francois Rude, to their clientele.
Throughout its history the Barbedienne organization aggressively pursued the work of living artists, with some success, but they also experienced their share of business turmoil – first in the financial collapse and revolution of the late 1840′s and again with the Franco-Prussian war in 1870, during which time they abandoned their artistic products to cast cannon for the French Army. In between, Ferdinand’s partner Achille Collas died (1859) leaving him as sole owner of the foundry and responsible for its 300 workers.
The foundry’s work and reputation surged forward in 1876 when Ferdinand was able to purchase 125 casting models from the estate of the late Antoine Louis Barye. Barbedienne immediately began casting and selling editions of these sculptures, eventually devoting an entire catalogue to them.
Barbedienne died in 1891 much mourned by the French artistic community. The foundry’s work continued under the leadership of his nephew Gustave Leblanc, who maintained the same high quality standards that had made the foundry’s name. The foundry continued to cast the works of leading artists of the day, including Auguste Rodin and Emmanuel Fremiet. The LeBlanc family continued to operate the foundry until 1952.
Reference note by p4A.com editorial staff, 05.09.