André-Antoine Ravrio, an eminent French bronze master
Born on 23rd October 1759 in Paris, André-Antoine Ravrio belongs to the generation of craftsmen from the end of the 18th century who made a name for themself in the decorative bronze field under the French Empire. Even tough the notorious bronze-maker Pierre-Phillipe Thomire is often considered to be the most dominant bronze-maker of his generation, one should not forget A.A Ravrio as an eminent figure of this period.
Henri-François Riesener
Antoine André Ravrio
© Photo (C) RMN-Grand Palais / Hervé Lewandowski
A.A Ravrio, born in a large craftsmen family, decided after his studies to learn bronze-making, probably with the help of his father who was a notorious smelter. In 1786 he purchased a gilder-silversmith’s business in Paris and in 1806, after of few years running this store, he settled in today’s Rue de Richelieu and his workshop was located rue Montmartre.
A.A Ravrio first collaborated with various cabinetmakers such as Georges Jacob, Guillaume Beneman or Ferdinand Bury for whom he provided the ornemental bronzes enriching their furniture pieces. His career as a bronze maker will however take a whole new dimension during the Imperial age. According to his order records, several hundreds craftsmen were working in A.A Ravrio workshop at this time, compratively P.F Feuchère had 150 workers under his command while Thomire employed 800 people to create luxurious gilt bronze pieces.
Probably by André-Antoine Ravrio
Paris, circa 1800-1805
Detail of a pair of Empire patinated and gilt-bronze twelve-light candelabra
© Sotheby’s
On the occasion of the arrangement of large residences in Compiègne, Rambouillet, Saint Cloud or Fontainebleau, Ravrio received many imperial orders. He also worked on various projects abroad including the creation of bronzes for the Monte Cavallo Palace in Rome. Unfortunately it remains pretty difficult to attribute pieces to A.A Ravrio since he didn’t sign most of his bronzes except a few clocks.
Ravrio also created several important pieces for the Elysée Palace, among the most outstanding ones is a clock called Le Char de Vénus. On this piece, Venus is driving a chariot while a shepherd talks to the goddess of love. This specific type of clock design has been very appreciated during the imperial age and many variations have been created.
An Empire ormolu and green marble mantel-clock
The mounts attributed to André-Antoine Ravrio, the dial signed by Dubuc, the enamel by Étienne Gobin, known as Dubuisson
© Artcurial
In 1808, still for the Elysée Palace, Ravrio created a set of bronze plate for the Empress Eugénie including a pair of andirons representing two love figures warming themselves. This subject as well as the unusual use of plate bronze makes this piece all the more exceptional.
Finally, A.A Ravrio will be remembered not only as a notorious bronze maker but also as a man with many passions and activities such as writing light poems and plays. After his death in 1814, Ravrio’s workshop had been managed until 1840 by Louis-Stanislas Lenoir (his adoptive son) who will sign his bronze pieces “L.Ravrio”.