French, circa 1790

Sotheby's London, 17 July 1980, lot 104

The French Revolution played a large part in the decline of Rococo design which was followed by a revival of classical ideas or the Neo-Classical period. With Neo-Classicism, artists combined classical themes with political propaganda to emphasis loyalty to the state. While the subject of this allegorical sculpture remains elusive, it does include some recognizable figures: the seated woman representing France and Peace with oak leaves beside her shield; the putto is handing her a cornucopia filled with objects representing the Arts and Literature (a palette, a bust, a scepter and books); the putto is supported by a noble gentleman wearing a toison d’or and another badge indicating authority as well as a robe embellished with fleur de lys (the male figure appears to be royal and is clad in 17^th century costume).

The specific dating of the sculpture is not only related to the style of the work but also to the fact that the fleur de lys on both figure’s robes and all of the medals on the male figure have been marred in an attempt to remove them. It was typical in the Revolutionary period that emblems of the Bourbon regime were suppressed. This act provides a terminus ante quem for the creation of the sculpture.