Barthélemy Prieur (circa 1536-1611) French, late 16th/ early 17th century

Count Cecil Pecci Blunt, Palazzo Pecci-Blunt (formerly Palazzo Fani), Rome

Overall the condition of the bronze is good with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are a few original plugs, including to the haunches. There are a few small lacunae including to the belly and one under the chin. There is wear to the original lacquers, including at the neck. The separately cast tail is probably later and is slightly loose. There is a loss to the mount to the underside of the proper left back hoof. There is glue to the base where the back hooves fit. There are a few small chips to the edges of the base. There is an old collection label to the underside of the base inscribed in pen: Proprieté C... Anna L. Pecci Blunt Studio - Pavi ... Biblioteca - Roma - .
"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 charming leaping horse has been associated with Prieur due to its relationship with the horse in his equestrian portrait of Henry IV.  A version of the latter was documented as being in the Louvre in 1603 together with a bronze horse which is likely to have been a cast like the present statuette (op.cit., Krahn).  The horse’s elegant elongated body also compares well to Prieur’s other animal sculptures. See for example his Pacing lion in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (see Bode and Draper, op. cit., fig. 50).

RELATED LITERATURE
W. Bode, The Italian bronze statuettes of the renaissance, rev. ed. by James D. Draper, 1980, fig. 50; L. Camins, Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes from the Abbott Guggenheim Collection, exhib. cat. M. H. de Young Memorial Museum, San Francisco, 1988, pp. 120-1, no. 41; V. Krahn, Von allen seiten schön. Bronzen der Renaissance und des Barock, exhib. cat. Staatliche Museen, Berlin, 1995, p. 426, no. 143