Pedrolino
Joseph Willems (1845-1910)
Belgian
Date : 1884 (Lifetime edition)
Dimensions : 57 x 16 x 14,5 cm
Material : Bronze with light brown patina
Technique : Lost-wax cast
Signature : “J. Willems 1884”
Titled : “Pedrolino”
Foundry : La Compagnie des Bronzes de Bruxelles
Stamp : “Cie des Bronzes de Bruxelles (cire perdue)”
Radiating theatrical charm and human depth, Pedrolino by Joseph Willems is a masterful bronze bust capturing the jovial spirit of a king’s fool. Executed in lost-wax bronze technique and finished with a luminous light brown patina, this expressive work embodies the artist’s refined modelling and deep understanding of character study.
Willems presents the jester mid-performance, his features lit up by a mischievous, knowing smile. His eyes sparkle with wit, and the carefully rendered wrinkles around his cheeks and forehead evoke both the joy and fatigue of a performer who has long observed human folly from behinf the mask of comedy. His curled collar is an exuberant cascade of ruffled fabric, adding volume and movement to the composition. Above, his soft cap is playfully topped with jester’s bells – an ironic crown for this gentle mock-king.
The bust is signed “J. Willems 1884” and bears the mark of the Compagnie des Bronzes de Bruxelles, one of the foremost Belgian art foundries of the 19th century.
The casting quality is exceptional, with crisp detailing, lively surface texture, and a warm patina that enhances its sculptural presence.
According to archival documentation, one other copy of his model is known to exist in the last two decades – yet with significantly inferior casting.
Pedrolino is part of a larger group of busts by Willems celebrating figures from theatre, folklore, and carnival, including Triboulet, Buffoon, and L’Oiseleur. These works were cerated at the height of Willems’ collaboration with the Compagnie des Bronzes of Brussels (1882-1884) and reveal his keen eye for dramatic expressiveness and technical virtuosity.
A rare lifetime cast of a playful yet poignant figure, Willems’ Pedrolino is a brillant example of late 19th-century Belgian realism infused with theatrical soul.
