Honoré Icard (1843-1917) David spielt auf der Harfe. 

Frankreich, um 1880

Der französische Bildhauern Honoré Icard zählt zu den besten Künstlern seiner Zeit, leider sind seine wunderbaren Arbeiten kaum bekannt. Da Icard seine Werke dem französischen Staat hinterließ, sind nur wenige Exemplare (obwohl zahlreiche Museen seine Werke besitzen) der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Die Auflagen waren klein, teilweise wurden Skulpturen auch zerstört oder gingen verloren.

Die vorliegende zeigt den biblischen David als Knaben, der versonnen auf der Harfe spielt. Icard führte die Skulptur erstmals 1877 in Gips aus,  1878 zeigte er sie dann in Marmor auf der Weltausstellung in Paris. Das Original befindet sich heute im Musée d'Evreux, in Eure.

Der Legende nach wurde der Hirtenjunge David von König Saul an seinen Hof geholt, damit er ihm auf der Harfe, der Kinnor, vorspielte. Die Kinnor, ein altes vorislamisches Zupfinstrument, ist auch als Davidsharfe bekannt.

Nur wenige Exemplare der Skulptur sind bekannt. Icard ließ seine Bronzen selbst gießen, neben der kleinen Gießermarke „ESPLE I. PARIS“ auf der Rückseite steht die Ziffer "8".

Wunderbare Qualität, sehr guter Zustand mit schöner, mittelbrauner Patinierung. Vorn auf dem Sockel der Titel „David devant Saul“, seitlich die Signatur „H. Icard hors concord“.

Höhe: 68,5 cm   Gewicht: 16 kg

Seine Ausbildung begann Honoré Icard zunächst als Kunsttischler und Bildhauer. Anschließend arbeitete er bei einem Ornamentmaler in Clermont-Ferrand, einer Stadt, in der er 1869 einen ersten Preis für Bildhauerei an der École des beaux-arts erhielt.                   In Paris beendete er seine Ausbildung an der École des arts décoratifs, als Student bei  Aimé Millet und Auguste Dumont.

1875 wurde er Mitglied der Société des artistes français und stellte ab da bis 1913 jedes Jahr im Salon de peinture et de sculpture aus.

1892 bis 1908 arbeitete er für die Porzellan Manufaktur von Sèvres.

Honoré Icard heiratete 1892 die Bildhauerin Francine Ducrot, beide arbeiteten auch an gemeinsamen Werken, unterzeichnet mit Ducrot-Icard.

Icards Arbeiten, die vielfach ausgezeichnet wurden, befinden sich heute in verschiedenen Museen, u.a. Lille, Marseille, Paris und dort auch in der Bibliothèque nationale de France sowie in Saint Germaine en Laye, wo er viele Jahre seines Lebens lebte und arbeitete.

Honoré Icard (1843 - 1917) David playing the harp. Around 1880
The French sculptor Honoré Icard is one of the best artists of his time, unfortunately his wonderful works are hardly known. Since Icard left his works to the French state, only a few copies (although numerous museums own his works) are available to the public. Editions were small, and some sculptures were also destroyed or lost.
The present one shows the biblical David as a boy playing the harp. Icard first executed the sculpture in plaster in 1877, then showed it in marble at the World's Fair in Paris in 1878. The original is now in the Musée d'Evreux, in Eure.
According to legend, the shepherd boy David was brought to his court by King Saul to play for him on the harp, the kinnor. The kinnor, an ancient pre-Islamic plucked instrument, is also known as the harp of David.
Only a few examples of the sculpture are known to exist. Icard had his bronzes cast himself, next to the small foundry mark "ESPLE I. PARIS" on the back is the number 8.
Wonderful quality, very good condition with beautiful medium brown patination. In front on the base the title "David devant Saul", on the side the signature "H. Icard hors concord".
Height: 68.5 cm Weight: 16 kg.
Biography :
Honoré Icard began his training first as a cabinetmaker and sculptor. He then worked for an ornamental painter in Clermont-Ferrand, a city where he won a first prize in sculpture at the École des beaux-arts in 1869. In Paris, he finished his training at the École des arts décoratifs, as a student of Aimé Millet and Auguste Dumont.
In 1875 he became a member of the Société des artistes français and from then until 1913 exhibited every year at the Salon de peinture et de sculpture.
From 1892 to 1908 he worked for the porcelain manufactory of Sèvres.
Honoré Icard married the sculptor Francine Ducrot in 1892, both also worked on joint works, signed Ducrot-Icard and worked together on their works from the end of the 19th century.
Icard's works, which have won many awards, are now in various museums, including Lille, Marseille, Paris and there also in the Bibliothèque nationale de France, as well as in Saint Germaine en Laye, where he lived and worked for many years of his life.

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