France, 19th century

incised on the shield: (O)trianidas

Private Collection, Paris; Private Collection, London; Heim Gallery, London

Washington, New York, Cambridge 1979-1982, no. 88 (illus.); New York 1981, no. 52

Surface abrasions, chipping, and small losses throughout, including surface of face and some hair. Some hairline drying or firing cracks and restorations throughout. Some restorations include: his proper left earlobe, his neck, his proper left hand and leg (at toes, ankle, and knee), his proper right leg. Cracks to a toe (loose), ankle, knee, thigh, and wrist of proper right hand. There are restored breaks to shield and base. Applied surface pigment obscures some restorations. Otherwise stable, attractive and well modeled.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

RELATED LITERATURE

Lami 1910-1911; Draper and Scherf 2003, no. 72, pp. 165-167

Laing (Washington, New York, Cambridge 1979-82, op.cit.) convincingly identified this terracotta with Chinard's lost Othryades exhibited in the salon of 1810, noted as:  Otriades Mourant sur son Boueler. The composition is ultimately derived from the Antique Dying Gaul in the Capitoline Museum, Rome which Chinard copied for the baron de Bénzeval. The treatment of the hair and facial type can be generally compared with works by him such as the head of Nessus in the terracotta Nessus and Deianira in the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lyon. However, the lack of precise detail and the treatment of the surface and of the base have lead to the conclusion that the piece was more likely modelled a generation after Chinard.

Othryades, or Otriades, was the Spartan hero described in Herodotus as the survivor of 300 champions who fought the Argives for the possession of Thyria. He was later ashamed to return to Sparta as the only survivor and killed himself on his shield.