Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse

With Lasson Gallery, London, January 1988;

where acquired by the present English private collection

This exceptional terracotta bust by Carrier-Belleuse is representative of the artist's genius for portrait and historicising busts. Carrier-Belleuse was one of the most prolific and celebrated Second Empire sculptors. Many of his compositions were edited in bronze, but is his terracotta sculpture, and particularly the busts, which convey his seemingly limitless imagination and joy and depicting costume detail, facial expression and hair styles. His subjects range from romantic fantasy portraits of historical figures, such as his wonderful Milton, in which the poet is depicted with eyes shut, as if deep in thought (musée national des châteaux de Malmaison et Bois-Préau, Rueil-Malmaison; see Hargrove, op. cit. no. 80), to bacchantes and women in elaborate costumes and plumed hats. It is also important to note that Rodin was taught by Carrier-Belleuse, whose influence can be seen in works such as the Jeune femme au chapeau fleur in the musée Rodin, Paris (S.01056).

The present bust is a perfect expression of Carrier-Belleuse' unique style. The freshness of the modelling of the flowers and leaves in the hair, and the girl's expression with retroussé nose, is both charming and joyous to behold. This is one of the most beautiful Carrier-Belleuse busts to have been offered on the London art market in years. In the quality of modelling and the bucolic subject, the bust recalls French 18th-century terracotta sculpture.

RELATED LITERATURE

J. Hargrove, The Life and work of Albert Carrier Belleuse, New York, 1977; J. Hargrove and G. Grandjean, Carrier-Belleuse. Le maïtre de Rodin, exh. cat. Palais de Compiègne, Paris, 2014