Wall-Light (bras de lumière)
19th century
Medium
gilded bronze
Dimensions
height: 65.1 cm (25 5/8 in.)
Classification
Decorative Art
Department
CSD
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of George D. Widener and Eleanor Widener Dixon
Accession Number
1957.7.16
Art Historical Context
This elegant *Wall-Light (bras de)* exemplifies the opulence of French 19-century decorative arts. Crafted in gilded bronze—a luxurious medium that combined bronze casting with a thin layer of gold leaf for a, enduring shine—this sconce stands at 65.1 cm (25 5/8 in.) high. Wall-lights like this were essential fixtures in grand salons and palaces, providing both illumination from candle arms and sculptural beauty, often designed to harmonize with architectural details like boiserie paneling. Produced during France's dynamic 19th century, a period of stylistic revivals from Empire grandeur to L...