A FRENCH 'GOTHIC REVIVAL' ORMOLU, PATINATED AND SILVERED-BRONZE AND PORPHYRY MANTEL CLOCK

Loosely wrapped in a robe, the seated figure almost certainly depicts St. Jerome, who turns the pages of a book serving as an allusion to his biblical scholarship and status as Doctoris ecclesiae universalis. One of the Fathers of the Catholic Church, Saint Jerome (342-420) is best known for translating the Bible into Latin. The saint’s iconography derives from the medieval Golden Legend and remained fixed throughout later centuries.
Established in 1804, the firm of Denière produced bronzes of the highest quality throughout the nineteenth century for such distinguished clients as the Prince d'Orange, the Duc d'Orléans, the Grand Duc Alexandre, and the viceroy of Egypt. In 1844 Guillaume Denière inherited the company from his father and established a warehouse/shop at 15, rue Vivienne. In the following decades Guillaume continued in his father's footsteps, winning various prizes for both his work and his role as President of the Réunion des Fabricants, ultimately receiving the Légion d'Honnneur just prior to the 1862 International Exhibition, London. The firm continued to exhibit works of the finest quality, such as the present lot, and execute significant commissions until its close and the sale of its models circa 1890.