attributed to Barthelemy Prieur (1536-1611) French, 17th century

light brown patina with remains of black laquer;
on an ebonised wooden plinth

Condition good with minor scratches consistent with general wear. Wear to patina as evident in catalogue photo.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This Astonished or Surprised Boy can be compared to a bronze described in André Le Nôtre's inventory in 1700 as part of a small group depicting A standing Boy observing the sleeping Cupid lying at his feet : ' 345. Item une autre figure de bronze représentant un Amour qui dort et un grand garçon quy le regarde, sur son pieds de bois, prisée 30 livres tournois'.  

The original composition is known through a bronze group which once belonged to Sir Alfred Beit (1853-1906) and then to his brother Otto Beit (1865-1930). It was exhibited in 1913 in the Burlington Fine Arts Club in London and illustrated in the catalogue (whereabouts unknown today).  While Bode considered this bronze as a  late 16th century Florentine cast, Weihrauch ascribed it to the Master of the Genre Figures. Based on the discoveries of Anthony Radcliffe and Bertrand Jestaz, the bronze is today attributed to Barthelémy Prieur (1536-1611).

With both arms raised in surprise, the boy is standing completely nude, a fine headband holding his curly hair.  The overall proportions of the finely modelled body, the oval shape of his face with a high forehead, almond shaped eyes and delicate nose are all distinctive  of Barthelémy Prieur's works.

Another version of the Surprised Boy is known in the Bode Museum in Berlin,  and a later 17th century version of  the Standing Boy and the sleeping Cupid was recently sold at Christie's (sale Paris, 22 June 2005, lot 110). There are also said to be versions in the Louvre Museum, in the Wallace Collection and in the Victoria & Albert Museum, which could not be retraced.

RELATED LITERATURE
W. Bode, Catalogue of the collection of Pictures and Bronzes in the possession of Mr. Otto Beit, Londres, 1913, pp. 60-61, pl. XLI; W. Bode, The Italian Bronze statuettes of the Renaissance, (ed. and revised by J. Draper) , New York, 1980, p. 101, pl. CLIII; Catalogue of a collection of Italian Sculpture and other Plastic Art of the Renaissance, Londres, Burlington Fine Arts Club, 1913, n° 26, pl. XXXIV; J. Guiffrey, 'Testament et inventaire après décès de André Le Nostre et autres documents le concernant', in Bulletin de la Société de l'Histoire de l'Art français, 1911, p. 217 - 282; R. Seelig-Teuwen, 'Kavalier und Magd: zu Barthelémy Prieur's Bronzestatuetten', in Die Weltkunst, LXI, 1991, p. 3706-3709