Standing with pride since 1860, this couple never falters in their work. Cast in bronze, two Second Empire figures clutch delicate candleholders. Their bases of highly polished ebony and delicately-veined green marble contrast with the deep patina of the bronze. At fifteen inches high, they cut imposing figures. Solid and stalwart in their Renaissance-inspired costumes, they challenge the dark.
The term Second Empire refers to the arts of the reign of Napoleon III (1852-1870). The style of the time drew heavily from the Italian Renaissance and also introduced a Gothic revival. These candlesticks fittingly represent the sensibilities of the Second Empire with their carefully rendered costumes and monumental faces. The bases speak of the elegance of the time—letting the materials show their natural beauty in simplistic forms borrowed from the earlier Neoclassical Movement. They seem to tell us to remain loyal to the task at hand, and to remember that perseverance will always win out.
The term Second Empire refers to the arts of the reign of Napoleon III (1852-1870). The style of the time drew heavily from the Italian Renaissance and also introduced a Gothic revival. These candlesticks fittingly represent the sensibilities of the Second Empire with their carefully rendered costumes and monumental faces. The bases speak of the elegance of the time—letting the materials show their natural beauty in simplistic forms borrowed from the earlier Neoclassical Movement. They seem to tell us to remain loyal to the task at hand, and to remember that perseverance will always win out.
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