Alexandre Falguiere (1831-1900) 19th Century Bronze Bust Of Diana

19th century sculpture in finely chiseled bronze with brown patina signed A. FALGUIERE (Alexandre Falguière 1831-1900) Beautiful composition depicting the bust of Diana rising on a pedestal, in the legend of the Roman pantheon she embodies the goddess of the moon and the hunter wearing a tiara in the shape of a crescent moon. The artist Falguière represents her here in a charismatic attitude displaying a conscious and slightly disdainful modesty but above all experienced and provocative, animated by a solemn gaze with secret thoughts like a sweet, impenetrable dream. During the Salon of 1884, the sculptor Alexandre Falguière, academician and professor at the School of Fine Arts, caused a sensation by presenting this Hunting Nymph in an unconventional posture. A personality defined as southern, Falguière was undoubtedly seduced by the voluntary and cheerful character of his famous model, Juana Romani (1867-1923), whose physiognomy and features he faithfully transcribed to embody this feminine divinity. Known for creating sculptures based on nature, in 1882 he had already presented a Diana inspired by Hortense Fiquet, the companion of Paul Cézanne. This bust is taken from the life-size version first exhibited in plaster at the salon and widely acclaimed, it was his most famous piece, a marble version is now in the Louvre Paris. Good general condition, beautiful patina, height: 26 cm x 15 cm high. Alexandre Falguière is a French sculptor and painter, student under the direction of François Jouffroy in Paris at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, then he spent the period from 1860 to 1867 in Rome. He exhibited for the first time at the Salon in 1857 with “The Child Theseus” and in 1859 and two years later won the Prix de Rome with “The Wounded Mézance”. In 1864, while in Rome, he created the sculpture "Victory in the Cockfight", which won him first prize at the Paris Salon. This was a turning point in his career and his sculpture took on a more realistic tone. He obtained numerous public commissions including the “Triumph of the Republic” on the Arc de Triomphe. He is considered the successor of Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux and the first realist of 19th century French sculpture. His classic and in most cases female mythological figures - the Dianas, nymphs and bacchantes - made him extremely popular. In addition to large public sculptures, he sculpted many genre and allegorical works for the home.