FRENCH, CIRCA 1780, VENUS DISARMING CUPID | Venus disarming Cupid

REFERENCE BIBLIOGRAPHIQUE
Falconet à Sèvres 1757-1766, ou l'art de plaire, cat. exp. musée national de la Céramique, Sèvres, 2001.

This marble is in overall very good condition with minor surface dirt, particularly to the crevices, consistent with age and handling. Natural grey veining and inclusions consistent with the material are visible all over the surface, with one more pronounced vein going through the rock and Cupid’s leg. The upper part of Venus’ bow may have been reattached and the detached lower part could be easily fixed. Cupid’s proper left wing has been reattached with two joints slightly visible. Venus’s proper right upraised arm may have been carved separately with a joint visible above here cuff. There is a minor lack to the tip of the bird’s tail.Very attractive marble with remarkable carving, good in all details.
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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."

Vénus et de l'Amour ne cessa de stimuler l'imaginaire des sculpteurs du XVIIIe siècle, donnant lieux à nombreux sujets inspirés des modèles maternels,autour de l'amour, du chantiment ou du réconfort. Sous les directions d'Etienne Maurice Falconet puis de Louis-Simon Bizot, les sculpteurs des ateliers de la Manufacture de Sèvres, dont Joseph et Jean Baptiste Ignace Broche, traitèrent ces thèmes en de nombreuses versions au cours des années 1760-1780 (cf. op. cit., p. 98).