Cléopatre et Lesbie

Representing Cleopatra in an elaborate headdress and clutching luxurious jewels, French sculptor Charles Cumberworth’s figural group fully evokes the drama and extravagance artists accorded their depictions of the celebrated Egyptian ruler during the second half of the 19th century. This rare model was likely that shown by the founder Léon Marchand at the International Exhibition of 1862 in London. Despite its seeming popularity, however, few bronzes of this scale are known. The Parisian founder, Marchand, was renowned for both his bronzes d’art and bronzes d’ameublement, and created this figural group from the mid-19th century, in smaller editions – including one measuring 40 cm. high – some of which were incorporated into sumptuous clock garnitures which fully expressed the grand taste of the era.