Large Pair of Bronze Figures by Rousseau

A pair of bronze figures of dancing musicians by Victor Rousseau (Belgium, b. 1865). The male figure playing a mandolin, the female figure dancing and holding a tambourine, both raised on circular naturalistic bases cast with grapes and vine leaves, signed ROUSSEAU, greenish patination, raised on circular brèche rouge marble plinths. 830mm high, 330mm wide and 310mm deep. Belgium. Circa 1910. Born into a family of Belgian stonemasons, Victor Rousseau became a pupil of sculptor Georges Houstont before entering the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels. Winner of the Godecharles competition in 1890, he spent several years traveling in England, Italy and France, where he discovered Art Nouveau. Many of his works are held by the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels.