Gloria Victis
After Antonin Mercié (1845–1916)
Bronze with gilt and dark brown patina
Signed and inscribed on the integral base: GLORIA VICTIS
Height: ___ cm (to be confirmed)
Conceived: 1874
This cast: circa 1895
A powerful and poetic allegory of heroism and sacrifice, Gloria Victis (“Glory to the Vanquished”) was originally conceived in 1874 as a tribute to French soldiers fallen during the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71). The composition depicts Winged Victory lifting the lifeless body of a young warrior, sword still in hand, in a final gesture of triumph amid defeat.
This cast, produced around 1895, is a fine example of late 19th-century French bronze foundry work, combining technical virtuosity with emotional grandeur. One of Mercié’s most celebrated creations, it earned him widespread acclaim and remains a masterwork of French academic sculpture.
