Georges Malissard French, 1877-1942

From his debut at the Salon in 1908, Malissard was best known as a sculptor of horses.  His most accomplished models represent thoroughbreds shown in action, such as Le Tandem or Mounted Groom exercising a stallion, sold as lot 1347, Sotheby’s Gleneagles, 26 August 1997.  Mallisard also executed a number of public monuments, mostly based on equestrian format, but his exhibition-scale bronzes make only rare appearances on the market.

The physiognomy of the sitter in this equestrian portrait has a striking resemblance to Albert I, King of the Belgians.  Malissard is recorded as having made a model of Albert I, a version of which appeared as lot 548 in De Vuyst auctioneer, 13 May 2006, which depicts the king in military uniform. The present fine Valsuani foundry cast may be a variant model.