AFTER GUILLAUME COUSTOU THE ELDER (FRECH, 1677-1746): A PAIR OF LATE 19TH CENTURY BRONZE MODELS OF THE MARLEY HORSES each rearing stallion restrained by an attendant nude figure, on naturalistic bases signed 'Coustou', dark brown patination,  41cm high Louis XV commissioned the original pair of horses for his royal hunting lodge Chateau de Marly to replace two groups by Antoine Coysevox (1640-1720) of Fame and Mercury on horseback. The Coysevox pair were moved to the Tuileries Gardens in 1719 and Coustou was commissioned to create something equally impressive to fill the vacant space of the abreuvoir. His design revisited the theme of the colossal Roman marbles in the Piazza Quirinale, Rome, a city he had recently returned from after a four year scholarship there.  Related Literature: The French Bronze 1500-1800, M. Knoedler & Co, New York 1968.