Antique 1896 Dated Hippolyte Moreau Automne Bronze Sculpture

Here is a classical, antique bronze sculpture by the famous and renowned Hippolyte Moreau, with a signature of H. Moreau. Moreau was born in Dijon, France, and that is where many of his works came from, and where many still remain in the Dijon Museum of Art. He studied in Dijon and Paris, learning how to become a truly skilled sculptor and artist. This sculpture depicts a young woman holding baskets of grapes, likely for the making of wine. Her head is slightly canted as she gazes forward and onward. The details are quite fine, showing in her hair and dress, as well as with the grapes in the overflowing baskets. A large, round base holds this piece upright and stable, with the marking of "Automne" on the front of the base, and the signature of H. Moreau on the rear. The bronze has nicely tarnished, with a beautiful patina clashing with the early stages of oxidization forming, and highly polished bronze still shining bright. This piece is quite large, measuring approximately 37 inches tall, and with the base measuring nearly 14 inches in diameter. This sculpture also weighs in at a massive 61 pounds, making it quite the solid piece of bronze. No foundry marks look to be present, which isn't uncommon in some cases. Overall, a beautiful sculpture for those who are attracted to fine, antique French art, and classical bronze sculpting.