Madeleine Charnaux

Overall the condition of the bronze is very good. There is some wear to the surface consistent with age. There is a scratch to the inside of the proper left thigh.
"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."

Madeleine Charnaux sculpted in Paris in the 1930s, exhibiting at the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Tuileries. Shes was also amongst France's foremost female aviators. Throughout her aeronautic career she broke world records for altitude and for speed over distance. Her drive for success took her to Morocco where extended daylight hours allowed for more training. In 1942 Charnaux published La Passion du Ciel: Souvenirs d'une Aviatrice, an account of her experiences as an aviator. For a short period Charnaux was married to the acclaimed author Pierre Frondai.

During WWI Charnaux was an assistant to Émile-Antoine Bourdelle. She also modelled for him and Bourdelle produced three bronze portraits of Charnaux in 1917, two standing full-length statuettes and a life-size bust. The present nude betrays some of Bourdelle's influence in the angularity of the facial features. Charnaux's placement of the figure on the plinth beautifully captures an everyday moment of relaxation and ease. The cast is excellently patinated with subtle coloration throughout.

RELATED LITERATURE
Antoine Bourdelle, ex. cat., Charles E. Slatkin Galleries, New York, (undated), p. 71; P. Cannon-Brookes, Emile Antoine Bourdelle, London, 1983, p. 84; S. Kennedy, 'The Croix de Feu, the Parti Social Français, and the Politics of Aviation, 1931-1939,' in French Historical Studies, vol. 23.2, 2000, pp. 395-6; B. Mantura, Emile-Antoine Bourdelle, ex. cat., Palazzo Racani Arroni, Rome, 1994, p. 85, 87; S. Reynolds, France Between the Wars: Gender and Politics, London, 1996, p.78