Design for a Torchère

This design for a torchère was made by the artist Le Barbier. He is best known for his paintings and illustrations which reflect the political unrest and revolutions in North America and Europe during the final decades of the 18th century. One of his most famous works is without doubt the panel with the Declaration of the rights of men and citizens as it had been decreed by the Assemblée Nationale in 1789 and agreed to by King Louis XVI (Musée Carnavalet, Paris). Like many of his French colleagues Le Barbier was active in various art disciplines however, and he produced multiple designs for the interior, including this elegant design for a torchère. The idea of having human figures - women, cherubs or exotic figures such as Indians or Africans - as a support, holding up a candle or base on top of which a candelabrum could stand, had become particularly popular in the 18th century. Smaller examples were often executed in (partially) gilt bronze while larger pieces could be made in polychrome wood, marble or gesso.