French Art Nouveau Bronze of Purity and Grace La Source an Allegory of Flowing Elegance C1900

Details

Description

After Auguste Moreau — “La Source” (The Spring), c. 1900
A Finely Cast French Art Nouveau Bronze of Purity and … Read more After Auguste Moreau — “La Source” (The Spring), c. 1900
A Finely Cast French Art Nouveau Bronze of Purity and Grace
An Allegory of Flowing Elegance
This exquisite French School Art Nouveau bronze, cast circa 1900 after Auguste Moreau (1834–1917), captures the sensual refinement and lyrical motion of the Belle Époque.
La Source depicts a young woman turning gracefully as she gathers a cascading drapery that swirls around her like a flowing spring. The sculpture’s soft modeling, modest pose, and rhythmic movement evoke purity, vitality, and natural harmony — a poetic embodiment of “the source” of life itself.
Finished in a warm brown-green patina with golden undertones and mounted on its original black marble base, this piece measures 43 cm (17 in) in height and weighs 4.7 kg (10.4 lb) — a balanced union of elegance, scale, and craftsmanship.
Artistic Context
Rooted in the late 19th-century French School, this bronze reflects the golden age of Parisian Art Nouveau. Sculptors such as Auguste Moreau, Désiré Debut, and Louis-Ernest Barrias redefined allegory through movement and natural grace.
The theme of La Source — inspired by Ingres’s 1856 masterpiece — became a celebrated symbol of feminine purity and fluid beauty. This bronze beautifully echoes Moreau’s influence in its lyrical drapery, harmonious anatomy, and tender expressiveness, reminiscent of works from renowned foundries like Société des Bronzes de Paris or Siot-Decauville, known for their superior lost-wax casting.
Details
Artist: After Auguste Moreau (French School, 1834–1917)
Title: La Source (The Source)
Medium: Bronze with brown-green patina on black marble base
Dimensions: 43 cm H × 12.5 cm W × 11 cm D (widest point 14.5 cm)
Weight: 4.7 kg (10.4 lb)
Signature: Unsigned (typical of foundry casts of this model)
Origin: French School, Belle Époque period
Why You’ll Love It
Timeless Beauty: A serene portrayal of purity and feminine grace — quintessential Belle Époque elegance.
Authentic Craftsmanship: Finely cast with exquisite chasing and delicate proportions.
Poetic Movement: Drapery and figure flow together in a tranquil, natural rhythm.
Collector Appeal: A highly sought-after subject after Moreau, ideal for refined interiors or sculpture collections.
Investment Quality: An early 20th-century bronze with enduring artistic and decorative value.

Summary
After Auguste Moreau (French School, 1834–1917)
La Source (The Source), c. 1900
Bronze with brown-green patina on black marble base
Height: 43 cm (17 in) | Weight: 4.7 kg | Unsigned
A superb French School Art Nouveau bronze after Auguste Moreau’s celebrated model — an enduring symbol of purity, motion, and feminine grace from the Belle Époque. See less