Viennese cold-painted bronze figure of a boy with a donkey by Bergman

This wonderful Orientalist cold-painted bronze sculpture was crafted around 1910 by the famed Franz Xaver Bergman (1861-1936).

The figurative sculpture depicts a young Arab boy standing in front of a donkey. Such composition was very popular during the late 19th and early 20th century appearing in several of Bergmann’s creations. The boy is dressed in flowing garments rendered in neutral colours. A striped covering can be observed on his head, its polychrome design adding a pop of colour to the sculpture. Next to the boy’s hand which is resting on the donkey’s back is a book with Arabic and other indistinguishable writing.

The sweet donkey figure is rendered in similar shades of brown as the boy’s clothing creating a cohesive design. His saddle is adorned with a red and yellow striped covering while his halter features ribbons in similar colours.  

On the reverse, the boy’s garment is stamped with a ‘B’ in an urn-shaped cartouche.

Crafted using the complex cold-painting technique, this Bergman sculpture is a desirable addition to one’s collection of Viennese bronzes.