Offered by Antiquités Paul Azzopardi
Furniture and Decorative arts
Carrara marble bust sculpted by Émile Aldebert (1828–1924) and dated 1904. Signed and dated on the base.
Probably depicting Eugène Bonnasse, a prominent figure from Marseille.
The quality of the sculpture is excellent, with strongly defined facial features, highly realistic drapery, and particularly accomplished rendering of the hair and moustache.
The block of Carrara marble is exceptionally pure, with no visible veining, and is in very good condition.
Born in Millau on August 28, 1828, Émile Aldebert came from a family originally from Comprégnac. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Marseille under the direction of Émile Loubon.
He further developed his skills in drawing and sculpture in Paris, where the quality of his work earned him a solid reputation. He exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français in Paris, receiving two medals in 1883 and 1886.
His reputation as a skilled ornamental sculptor led to numerous commissions. The major construction projects of the Second Empire provided him with opportunities to express his talent and creativity.
Several monuments in Marseille and Provence bear the signature of this artist. He contributed to the decoration of the Palais de Justice, the Palais des Arts, and the Palais Régis in Marseille.
