Important and Rare Equestrian Statue of François Ier (Sèvres hard-paste porcelain, dated 1842).

The model of this exceptional equestrian statue was created at Sèvres in 1817 by the most gifted in-house sculptor, Alexandre Brachard aîné (the elder). It was part of a series of six equestrian statues. The others are as follows:

1. Louis IX, Saint Louis. 1226 – 1270
2. Louis XII, Father of his People. 1498 – 1515
3. Charles V, The Wise. 1364 – 1380
4. Henri IV. 1589 – 1610
5. Louis XIV, The Sun King 1643 – 1715

The very first set of six were exhibited at the Musée Royal (now the Louvre) as part of the 1818 New Year exhibition of Sèvres products held there on 1st January. François Ier was number 24 of the catalogue. Immediately after the exhibition they were delivered to the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne (The Crown furnishings store) at a price of 500 Francs each (with base and glass “cage”). (Sèvres archives, Vbb 5, f.15). These figures were then produced in very small numbers over the following thirty years. Only two cash sales are recorded:

1) In October 1825, to Monsieur Benois, maître d’hôtel of George IV, King of England (the purchase was for the King himself). This figure was probably defective as it was priced 350 Francs. It was sold together with a figure of Louis XII at 440 Francs (Sèvres archives, V2 4, f.201).

2) On June 10th, 1828, to a Mr. Courtney (an Englishman?) together with a statue of Louis XIV, both priced 440 Francs ((Sèvres archives, V2 4, f.282VO).

A few credit sales are also recorded, including that of 12 equestrian figures delivered on July 6th, 1821 to the French Crown, for the Palace of Saint-Cloud. They are specifically mentioned as being of 6 different models. So one presumes there were two François Ier . These were priced 500 Francs each. So was the example sold to the Baron de la Rochefoucauld on March 7th 1826 (mentioned as being with base and glass “cage”). (Sèvres arch., Vbb 6, f.26 VO and Vbb 7, f.25).

This present example bears the incised mark “2-42”, which is a date-code for February 1842. Only one statue of François Ier was produced that year at Sèvres. It was modelled by Jean Mascret, “sculpteur-répareur”. It was very elaborate work because of the intricacy of the model, which necessitated 47 moulds. Mascret worked on this figure in January 1842, and finished it the following month, when he was paid 160 Francs for his work (for minor work paid “per day”, he earned 6 Francs a day). Modelling François Ier was therefore a whole month’s work! (Sèvres archives, Vv 3, fol. 131 VO –17). It has unfortunately not been possible to trace who the purchaser was.

In 1846, one figure of François Ier was delivered to King Louis-Philippe of France (together with one Saint-Louis, and one Henri IV), and in 1848, one was delivered to the Ministry of the Interior. Both were priced 440 Francs. Their reference numbers suggest they were not this present example (Sèvres archives, Vbb 11, f.12 VO and 23 VO).

To date, despite extensive research, we have found only two other surviving examples. One is at the Capodimonte Museum in Naples, and is dated 1836 (inventory number 6958) and another at Palace of Versailles.

This present example is beautifully modelled and well fired.

The King seated in the saddle wearing full tournament damasked armour, richly modelled in low relief with stylised arabesque and renaissance designs, the knee armour formed as Leopard heads, on his head a typical flat wide brimmed, plumed Italian hat, the gilt metal reins gathered in at one hand and clasping a long staffed mace in the other, with a sheathed gilt metal sword at his side. The high pummelled saddle bearing the Vallois badge of the fleur de lys over a tasselled and braided blanket hanging down over the hind quarters of the plumed horse, supported by a gnarled tree stump issuing leaves and branches on a bevelled rectangular base., I.B.11, p.103.