Aimé-Jules Dalou French, 1838-1902

M. Sedelmeyer; Sir Robert Abdy; hence by descent

This kneeling figure of Eve is probably Dalou’s earliest full scale marble still in private hands. Signed and dated 1866, it is an elaboration on the Young Girl with Grapes which he carved as part of the decoration in the Hôtel Païva, Paris two years earlier.  The composition is inspired by and a homage to his master Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux. It shows Dalou as an artist fluent in the neo-baroque manner favoured during the Second Empire.  Dalou’s reluctance to produce commercial editions in bronze or marble during his life means that works made by his hand are extremely rare, especially after his English period in 1879 when his attention was directed to prestigious monuments.  The playful charm of this figure belies its subject and the richly modeled hair tumbling down her back show the considerable skill of Dalou as a carver.