Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824 - 1904) FRENCH BELLUAIRE OR PLAUDITE CIVES. This sculpture shows the scene of a Roman coliseum where a gladiator just finished his battle with a large lion. The large man dressed in a loin cloth and an arm armor with a spear is pumped up and expects the stunned crowds to cheer for him; hence the title “Plaudite Cives” which translates to Civilian applause. The lion is postmortem magnanimous with blood coming out of his mouth showing great detail throughout. Bronze sits on a thick octagonal marble plinth with ornate brass beading. Apparently this bronze was retailed in Paris at a Tiffany Co. retail boutique after the turn of the last century. signed JL. GEROME, titled “PLAUDITE CIVES”, with the Siot Decauville foundry seal and numbered 7071; also stamped TIFFANY CO PARIS, with an original Patricia green marble plinth with brass beaded band. bronze and marble