Cast in Bronze: French Sculpture From Renaissance to Revolution July 22, 2009

Beginning in the 16th century, a tradition of bronze sculpture developed in France that was influenced by achievements of the Italian Renaissance but soon revealed its own distinct force, refinement and panache. Even though French bronzes were among the glories of royal chateaux, including Versailles, and were always collected eagerly by connoisseurs, they have received relatively little public scrutiny. Evolving from a decade-long collaborative study among scholars, this is the first exhibition to address the subject in 40 years.