19th C. Plaster Allegorical Personification of the City of Saint-Étienne, France

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A plaster personification of the French city of Saint-Étienne, this plaster sculpture dates to the era of Beaux-Arts style, which … Read more A plaster personification of the French city of Saint-Étienne, this plaster sculpture dates to the era of Beaux-Arts style, which was prevalent in France from the mid-1800s to the end of the century. The allegorical representation is similar to that of art from ancient Greece, which often depicted Athena as the guardian of Athens.

Saint-Étienne is represented as a strong, dignified woman guarding her heritage (the shield) and her industry (the scroll/helmet). Above her head is a mural crown parapet that is fronted by the coat of arms of the city. A pair of palm fronds can be seen in a saltire X-shape beneath a closed royal crown, with three croisettes placed around the leaves. The woman is clad in a winged helmet, indicative of Saint-Étienne being known as the city of “weapon, cycle, and ribbon”. It is possible that the plaster once graced the entrance of a public building within Saint-Étienne, although it could have been a maquette for a larger stone or metal sculpture. The plaster is affixed to a wooden frame with small feet, allowing our sculpture to be mounted on an edifice or placed on a pedestal or table. See less