French Bronze Sculpture: Materials and Techniques 16th-18th Century

The papers in this volume examine the origins and cross-fertilization of ideas and technology related to the making of bronzes in France between the Renaissance and the 18th century from the perspectives chronology, geography and typology. The production of specific sculptors and founders, or of specific works of art are considered in terms of the technology, the documentation of both the processes and the persons involved e.g. sculptors, founders, merchants, etc. and how these may have impacted the stylistic and technical outcome. Also presented are state-of-the-art research methods and their application to multi-disciplinary studies - including historical and archeological investigations, analytical studies of materials (e.g. metal, core and patina), as well as experimental reconstructions of metallurgical processes.