Superb French Antique (1920s) Bronze Tunisian Fruit Seller, Marcel Debut

Fine French antique (1920s) Orientalist patinated bronze a young Tunisian boy fruit seller by Marcel Debut (1865-1933). Signed ‘Debut’ with a plaque ‘PRIX de ROME’ on the base. Seal ‘Bronze Garanti au Titre, PARIS’. Ca 30.5cm high x 14.5cm wide x 19cm deep, 2.8kg. Excellent condition. Born in Paris in 1865, the son of sculptor Jean Didier Debut, Marcel studied first with his father and then at the École des Beaux Arts under Henri Chapu. He began to exhibit at the Salon des Artistes Français in 1883, including such works as Sommelier du XVe siècle (1889), Petit Pêcheur au harpon (1893), Actéon (1897), Le Génie des arts (1898), Une gueuse (1905), Watteau (1890), a vase with the theme of Persée et Andromède (1896), Labourage (1898) and L'Hiver (1913). Debut was also an accomplished artist having studied under both Boulanger and Jules Lefebvre at the Academy.