ALFRED BOUCHER (FRENCH 1850-1934): A BRONZE FIGURE OF A MAN 'LE TERRASSIER' CAST BY F. BARBEDIENNE the nude figure with a shovel, wearing only a belt at the waist, on an oval integral base, mid brown patination, signed to the base 'F. BARBEDIENNE FONDEUR' and 'A. BOUCHER', raised on a Maurin Green marble plinth, 48cm high  This bronze, depicting a navvy at work is typical of Boucher's style in its realistic depiction of the human physique which embodies energy and movement. The sinews, tendons and muscles beneath the skin are visible in this extremely well cast example which is a reduction of Boucher's full size marble that was exhibited at the Salon of 1890 and is now in the Musee Galliera, Paris. Barbedienne was the figure in three sizes.