Boisseau, The Defense of the Hearth, Late 19th Century, Bronze

Powerful and moving, this large bronze group with a brown patina, entitled "The Defense of the Home," forcefully embodies the universal theme of family protection in the face of peril. Created by the sculptor Émile Boisseau, it transposes, in a smaller format, the original model erected in the Square d'Ajaccio in Paris, in front of Les Invalides.
At the heart of the composition, a vigorous man stands in a defensive posture, his chest thrust forward and his features taut with determination. In his right hand, he brandishes a broken sword—a poignant symbol of fierce resistance despite imminent defeat. Beside him, his weeping wife clings to him in despair, while their child, in a frozen cry, seeks refuge against his body. The whole forms a dramatic human pyramid, where every gesture and every glance converges on the idea of ​​survival and sacrifice.
The brown patina accentuates the volumes and contrasts, highlighting the taut muscles, the tormented drapery, and the intensely sculpted expressions. The piece exudes a striking narrative tension, poised between heroism and vulnerability.
This bronze sculpture, titled within a cartouche, bears the inscription "Médaille d'Honneur" (Medal of Honor), attesting to the official recognition bestowed upon the work for its artistic quality and patriotic message. It belongs to the tradition of commemorative sculptures from the late 19th century, celebrating the values ​​of courage, duty, and familial love. This work is signed on the base and bears the foundry mark of "Société des Bronzes de Paris" (Paris Bronze Society).

Émile Boisseau (1842-1923) was a French sculptor. Trained first in Bourges and then at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, he became one of the leading figures of academic sculpture at the end of the 19th century. A student of Bonnassieux and Dumont, he exhibited regularly at the Salon from 1868 onwards. His work is characterized by a strong narrative sensibility, a taste for allegorical and patriotic subjects, and a solid mastery of group compositions. Among his best-known works are "The Defense of the Hearth," a monumental version of which stands in the Square d'Ajaccio in Paris, as well as "Twilight" and "Captive Love." Boisseau also held several institutional positions: director of the Clamecy Museum, vice-president of the Society of French Artists, and president of the art property syndicate. He was made an Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1900. He died in Paris in 1923, leaving behind a body of work marked by emotion, academic rigor, and profound humanism.

*******

Period: Second half of the 19th century

Very good condition. Sword replaced.
Dimensions:
Width: 46 cm
Depth: 30 cm
Height: 73 cm