Paul Jean Baptiste Gasq

Overall the condition of the marble is very good with dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There is veining to the marble throughout, consistent with the material, and there are a few naturally occuring inclusions. There are a few abrasions to some of the edges of the drapery, to the proper left foot of the water nymph and to her hair. There are a few small chips to the edges of the base.
"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."

Paul Jean Baptiste Gasq excelled in Classical and allegorical subjects. Numbering among his many public commissions is his Médée in marble in the Jardins de Tuileries, as well as L’Art et La Nature, to the left of the entrance of the Grand Palais. Both monumental group marbles impress with their drama and motion. The present sculpture maintains much of the vitality that characterises Gasq’s public monuments. The figures have a similar form and group dynamic to L’Art et La Nature. The boy poses in an exaggerated position with his arm and head flung back and foot lifted off the ground, his body bare, while the second figure appears lower and subservient. With the present sculpture, Gasq has successfully reduced the theatrical effect of his public sculptures into an appealing decorative work of art.

Gasq was a student at the School of Fine Arts in Dijon, before studying under Jouffrey and Hiolle at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He began exhibiting at the Salon in 1880 and won the Prix de Rome in 1890, followed by a Grand Prix at the Exposition Universelle of 1900. He was conservateur of the Musée de Dijon from 1932 and was made a member of the Institute in 1935.

RELATED LITERATURE
E. Bénézit, Dictionnaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs, Gründ, 1999, vol. v, pp. 892-893