The Wrestlers
Mid-19th-Century Life-Size Plaster Cast
The Wrestlers
Brussels Atelier de Moulages
Lifesize Plaster Cast
Belgium
Mid-19th Century
45 x 38 x 26
A monumental plaster cast after The Wrestlers, the celebrated ancient marble group in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. The composition depicts two nude athletes locked in physical contest, their intertwined forms creating a powerful study of anatomy, movement, and controlled tension.
Plaster casts after important works of Greek and Roman sculpture were produced throughout Europe for museums, academies, artists, and private collections, preserving celebrated classical models for study and display.
At life size, The Wrestlers has a commanding architectural presence. Its complex composition rewards viewing from multiple angles and is particularly suited to a substantial entrance hall, gallery, library, or other interior where sculpture can be experienced in the round.
Marks & Documentation:
This particular cast retains an applied workshop plaque inscribed “Commission Royale Belge,” “Section Artistique,” “Bruxelles,” “Atelier de Moulage,” and “Sculptures Internationales.” The surviving plaque provides important physical documentation directly associated with this cast and supports its identification with a Brussels atelier de moulage. The original plaque has been photographed and documented by Maison Palm Beach.
The Atelier de Moulage was established in the mid-19th century under King Leopold II, at a time when the trend of displaying plaster casts of Greek and Roman sculpture in private homes, museums, and academies was flourishing across Europe. These plaster casts served as essential teaching tools and acted as substitutes for classical marbles found in Italian collections.
The composition is based on the celebrated ancient Roman marble group known as The Wrestlers, now housed in the Tribuna of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. The dynamic intertwined figures capture the intensity of ancient athletic combat and made the work an enduring model for artists, academies, and collectors.
Price $24,500
