André-Antoine Ravrio (1759–1814) was one of the greatest French bronziers who learned the work of a bronze caster (or “fondeur”) under his father, André. The family of André Ravrio had been bronze casters since 1661. Subsequently, in 1774, the great bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire personally recommended Ravrio to the comte d’Artois. Only three years later, in 1777, he was received as a maître-fondeur and in 1790 he set up his own business. Ravrio’s bronzes are regarded as some of the most beautiful of their kind.
Although Ravrio was successful during Louis XVI’s reign, his success reached it’s peak under Napoleon Bonaparte. Ravrio participated in the first Exposition de l’Industrie in Paris in 1803. Later in 1806 he supplied a number of bronze furnishings for the Empress Joséphine’s apartments in the Tuileries. Subsequently he was appointed to bronzier to the Emperor in 1810. In this capacity he delivered some of the finest Empire bronze pieces to many of the Imperial residences like Fontainebleau, the Tuileries, Saint-Cloud, Compiègne and Versailles.
Discover the Empire mantel clocks , French candelabra, candlesticks and other decorative art objects by André-Antoine Ravrio and other artists in our gallery.