Nobleman of Louis XIII Twirling His Mustache
This sculpture by José Crespo depicts a nobleman from the era of French King Louis XIII, captured in the act of twirling his mustache. Crafted in bronze, the piece stands out for its meticulous detail and its ability to convey the personality and elegance of the depicted figure. The nobleman is dressed in typical 17th-century attire, including a belted jacket, high boots, and a cape draped elegantly over his shoulder.
The bronze features a patina that adds depth and texture to the figure, enhancing the folds of the clothing and the facial features of the gentleman. The focused expression and the casual gesture of twirling his mustache capture a quotidian moment imbued with nobility and style.
The sculpture is mounted on a polished wooden base, providing a warm and elegant contrast to the metal. This base not only adds stability but also frames the piece in a way that highlights its refinement and attention to detail.
«Living in France, I wanted to create a purely French figure…
I had my eye on several subjects and photos I had taken, mainly during Napoleonic reenactments. However, the oil painting Cavalier sous Louis XIII frisant sa moustache by French painter Ernest Meissonier captured my attention above all others. So, I got to work.
Although I was already familiar with Meissonier’s masterpieces and had seen some of them in various museums and exhibitions, living here has given me the time to delve deeply into his work. For its realism and detail, particularly in military painting, his work is undoubtedly a benchmark.
Ernest Meissonier, a 19th-century French academic painter and sculptor, is the artist who best captured the First French Empire, Napoleon, and his armies. The realism and detail in his works have made him an exemplar for many painters of this subject, including his disciple Eduard Detaille, another leading figure in military painting. His monumental painting, 1807, Friedland, which you can see below, is undoubtedly one of the pinnacle works in this genre.
As for this sculpture, as always, translating a figure from a painting into three dimensions presents certain challenges, as the parts not depicted in the painting also have to be sculpted—ha, ha! However, attending numerous period reenactments allowed me to gather the necessary costume details for such cases. I tried to remain as faithful as possible to the painting, which you can see below, while allowing myself a few liberties…
It is a figure with great strength. I created it in Strasbourg between April and June of 2016.»
José Crespo
