19th Century Etching "Lutteurs" Wrestlers by Achille Gilbert After Falguière

Of sporting interest: an unusual depiction of wrestling, full of tension and struggle. This is a fine etching by Gilbert after the famous painting of "Lutteurs" (Wrestlers) by French artist Alexandre Falguière (1831-1900) which was exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1875, and which is now in the Musée D'Orsay, Paris. At the time, there was some controversy over whether this was a noble enough subject, but it won him a second class medal. Falguière was better known as a sculptor. Achille Isidore Gilbert (1828-1899) was a painter and etcher and exhibited at the Salon 1851-80 and at Royal Academy 1877-1884.