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Le Fer (Fire) and L’Eau (Water) based on designs by August Renoir (1841- 1919.
This pair of vintage sculptures is based on Renoir’s drawings in his later years for a pair of monumental sculptures: Le Feu (Fire) and L’Eau (Water). With the encouragement and assistance of famed Paris gallerist Vollard, and under Renoir’s direction, the L’Eau was executed in collaboration with Spanish sculptor Richard Guinot Boix. The second sculpture, Le Fer, was never completed but renditions and copies have been made based on the drawings.
The sculptures likely date from mid-century, the 60’s or 70’s, when companies such as Austin Productions were making fine art replicas. Given the differences in size, surface appearance, details and materials they were not done by the same hand or foundry.
The sculptures illuminate Renoir evolution’s as an artist. Before his death in 1919 he began to turn away from Impressionism towards Classicism, as represented in Le Fer and L’Eau. (Sometimes these were known as The Blacksmith and The Laundress). For Renoir, the pair was meant to symbolize the two elements, Fire and Water.
Both sculptures are fine renditions of Renoir’s original vision for the from their general similarity in proportion and posture to their attentiveness to their tasks. However, in some respects they are quite different. Le Feu is larger and has a more worked, muscled and freer feel. The young blacksmith is pounding his metal with all his strength. We do not know who modeled Le Feu or exactly with what materials. Different replicas of each piece were made, some in bronze, some in patinated resin, and some in other composite materials.
L’Eau is more subdued, graceful and detailed. She is lifting pieces of laundry from the water in preparation to drying them. Her mind almost seems elsewhere. ]She sits on what seems an original wooden base. And, quite distinctly, the base of the work itself has AUSTIN PRODUCTIONS and a circular symbol, presumably the company’s stamp. She may be of Durestone, a composite used by Austin Productions, or patinated Plaster.
We acquired the pair together and are selling them as a pair. Graceful, decorative and meaningful, they would make a special addition to home décor or a collection.
Dimensions of LE FER:
Dimensions of L’EAU:
