Barthélemy Guibal

Maurice, Maréchal de Saxe (1696-1750), son of Augustus II, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, was an avid francophile and illustrious member of Louis XV’s army, who wrote extensively about the art of warfare. He is depicted here wearing armour, a sash with the White Eagle of Poland, and a billowing cloak fastened with a brooch set with a faceted gem. His coat- of-arms is emblazoned on the front of the integrally modeled socle.

The comte de Saxe was so popular that the iconography concerning him is rich and includes extraordinary pastel portraits by Quentin de La Tour and Jean-Étienne Liotard, and a remarkable terracotta bust by Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne presented at the Salon of 1747. In the present bust, the sculptor captures both the energetic and refined character of his sitter. He is modeled with alert eyes, a commanding presence, and a sly smile.

Barthélemy Guibal (Nîmes 1699 - Lunéville 1757) moved to Paris, where he studied with the sculptor François Dumont and later accompanied him to Nancy.  In 1726, Guibal became first sculptor to Duke Léopold of Lorraine. He worked on numerous projects in Nancy and executed many sculptures for the city, as well as in Lunéville. Many of his works were destroyed during and after the Revolution, including a full length bronze statue of Louis XV, formerly on Place Royale, Nancy. 

RELATED LITERATURE

S. Lami, Dictionnaire des sculpteurs de l'École française au XVIIIe siècle, 1910, part 3, vol. 1.