François Ladatte, 1706 - 1787 Vénus et Cupidon

Ancienne collection Gilda Darthy (1878-1952), comédienne; sa vente Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, le 18 mai 1923, lot 52 (ill.), adjugé 12 500FF à M. Hodgkins.

S. Lami, Dictionnaire des Sculpteurs de l'Ecole Française au Dix-huitième siècle, Paris, 1911 (réed. 1970), p. 20.

REFERENCE(S) BIBLIOGRAPHIQUE(S)
G. Dardanello, "Una naturale morbidezza. Francesco Ladatte da Parigi a Torino" dans Di modello, di intaglio e di cesello. Scultori e incisori da Ladatte ai Collino, Turin, 2012; pp. 5-30.

Good condition overall with some minor surface dirt consistent with age and handling. The white marble shows some natural grey veining and inclusions at several places. Cupid's head reattached and his proper right upraised arm reattached, with the tips of his arrow and bow replaced. Venus ' proper left hand may have been reattached under the retouched drapery wrapped around her wrist. Her proper left index retouched and the garland in her hand as well. Very finely carved and appealing marble.
"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."

En 1737, Ladatte exposera au Salon la version en terre cuite de ce marbre sous le titre de Flore, en même temps que le modèle en plâtre de sa statue de Louis XV en pied destinée à la ville de Rouen. Originaire du Piémont, l'artiste a été formé à Paris par Jean-Louis Lemoyne (1665–1755), Guillaume Coustou (1677-1746) et Nicolas Coustou (1658-1733) avant de recevoir le premier prix de sculpture en 1729. Il sera reçu à l'Académie Royale en 1741 avec sa célèbre Judith en marbre (musée du Louvre, inv. n° MR2008) et participera à d'importants chantiers religieux dont la cathédrale de Reims, le mausolée du Cardinal Fleury ou la chapelle du château de Versailles. Vers 1745, il retournera dans sa ville natale de Turin pour travailler au service des rois du Piémont-Sardaigne.
Ce groupe de Vénus et Cupidon excelle par son élégance et la subtilité dans le traitement du marbre, particulièrement sensible dans le travail du drapé fluide enveloppant les hanches et dégageant la poitrine de Vénus, accentuant le déhanchement de son corps. La guirlande de fleurs est sculptée avec une grande méticulosité rendant avec soin les pétales des roses, les corolles et les feuillages. Cette sculpture inédite, appartenant jadis à la célèbre comédienne Gilda Darthy à Paris, vient enrichir de manière notable le corpus de l'un des maîtres les plus talentueux de la cour de Piémont Sardaigne, entièrement imprégné du baroque français.

Gilda Darthy (1878-1952) fut une grande comédienne de son temps. Elle s'illustra dans des pièces d'Alexandre Dumas ou Sacha Guitry mais le rôle qui fit sa consécration, et qui la suivit tout au long de sa carrière, fut celui de Roxane dans Cyrano de Bergerac. Sa renommée la mena même jusqu'à jouer sur les planches des théâtres Outre-Atlantique.

In the 1737 Salon, Ladatte exhibited a terracotta version of the present marble, entitled Flora, together with a plaster of the full length portrait of Louis XV made for the town of Rouen. Native of Turino, Ladatte was trained in Paris, by Jean-Louis Lemoyne (1665–1755), Guillaume Coustou (1677–1746) and Nicolas Coustou (1658–1733). Ladattewon First Prize for Sculpture in 1729 and was admitted to the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture in 1741 with his famous marble of Judith (Musée du Louvre, inv. no. MR2008). He was involved in numerous religious projects, including works for Reims Cathedral, the Cardinal Fleury mausoleum and the chapel at Versailles. Around 1745, he came back to his native Piemont to work at the courts of the Kings of Piemont and Sardinia. The group of Venus and Cupid excels in its elegance and Ladatte’s subtle carving of the marble, especially in his treatment of the fluid drapery wrapping Venus’ hips, showcasing her breast and highlighting her contrapposto. The garland of flowers is meticulously carved, with a precise rendering of the rose petals, the corolas and the foliage. This group was formerly in the collection of the famous French actress Gilda Darthy (1878-1952), who won acclaim performing in plays by Alexandre Dumas and Sacha Guitry. She is perhaps most recognized for her performance as Roxane in Cyrano de Bergerac. Darthy found success too performing in famous theatres across the Atlantic.