Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse

Overall the condition of the marble is very good with minor dirt and wear consistent with age. The marble is naturally crystalline. There is some very light veining to the marble consistent with the material, including to the proper left breast and to the base. There are a few very minor chips, notably around the bottom edge.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This magnificent and exuberant marble bust shows Omphale, queen of Lydia, draped in Hercules' lion pelt, the smooth skin of her bared breasts contrasting with the fur and claws of the lion. The story of Hercules and Omphale has been favoured by artists since antiquity because of its gender role reversal which could be exploited for comic effect. According to Sophocles, Hercules was punished by Zeus for the murder of Iphitus by enslavement for a year under Omphale. In paintings and sculptures of the subject Omphale appears draped in Hercules' most recognisable attribute, the lion skin, and often holds his club, whilst Hercules appears dressed as a woman and performs women's work, as described by Ovid. The belle époque sculptor Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse has used the story to dramatic effect in this striking bust. The giant lion paws around Omphale's shoulders are both audacious and playful, lending to the marble a sense of comedy which is innate in the Greek myth.

RELATED LITERATURE
J. Hargrove and G. Grandjean, Carrier-Belleuse: Le maïtre de Rodin, exh. cat. Palais de Compiègne, Paris, 2014