An Important 18th century Hand carved Marble sculpture of a Child with bird. French, circa: 1700's. Measuring: 23.5" High.
The Marble sculpture firmly attributed to Jean-Baptiste Pigalle(1714-1785).
The present marble represents a known and widely popular form that Pigalle first created and did numerous times and can be found in Museums and high standing private collections world wide. This original work by him also boasts a 17th century ebonised wood base fitted with a period Ivory panel depicting figures. This base was most likely a prop or object from Pigalle's studio and at the time of the creation of the marble in the 18th century Pigalle carved a perfectly formed space for which the present marble fits into and stands to display this important sculpture. Since he was commissioned to sculpt this same form many times for Noble patrons this added base by him
was most certainly added to make it special and for a special patron.
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Literature:
Jean-Baptiste Pigalle (1714-1785). French sculptor. He studied under Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne and then in Rome (1736-39). In this early career he endured poverty and sickness (his studies in Rome were made at his own expense and he walked there from Paris), but after he was received into the Acadé©e Royale in 1744 with his rapturously acclaimed Mercury (Louvre, Paris, terracotta model in the Metropolitan Museum, New York), he rapidly went on to become the most successful French sculptor of his period. He was a superb craftsman and highly versatile and inventive, equally adept at small genre pieces and the most grandiloquent tomb sculpture. As a portraitist he was noted for his warmth and vivacity. His most famous works are the startling nude figure of Voltaire (Institut de France, Paris, 1770-76) and the spectacular and majestic tomb of Maurice of Saxony (designed 1753) in St Thomas, Strasburg.
Condition is as follows: losses to tips of bird wings and tail. Ancient hair lines in figures left wrist and arm. Part of ribbon lacking.
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