Signed Max Bourgeois Standing Bronze Figure of Maiden With Putti Holding Torch

Details

Description

Measures: 52 1/4" h x 14 1/2" w x 15" d.

She stands as though she has just stepped forward … Read more Measures: 52 1/4" h x 14 1/2" w x 15" d.

She stands as though she has just stepped forward from shadow into light.

This evocative signed on bottom Max Bourgeois bronze sculpture, depicting a graceful female figure accompanied by a winged putti holding a torch aloft, carries the poetic weight of late 19th-century French academic art. Cast in rich, dark patinated bronze, the figure is both grounded and luminous — her posture composed, her expression thoughtful, as though listening for something distant beyond the horizon.

The composition is dynamic yet restrained. The young woman lifts one hand to her brow, shielding her eyes as if searching or reflecting, while the small putto behind her raises a flaming torch — a classical symbol of enlightenment, guidance, and awakening. The interplay between the two figures creates narrative tension: innocence and wisdom, light and contemplation, movement and stillness.

The drapery is handled with confidence. Bronze folds cascade naturally along her form, clinging where they must and flowing where gravity dictates. The surface modeling reveals the sculptor’s academic training — anatomical accuracy balanced with romantic sensitivity. The base, textured with organic detail, anchors the piece without overwhelming its vertical grace.

This sculpture bears the signature of Max Bourgeois (1839–1901), a respected French sculptor associated with the academic and allegorical traditions of the late 19th century. Bourgeois exhibited at the Paris Salon and was known for his refined bronze figures, often incorporating mythological or allegorical themes. His work reflects the spirit of the Belle Époque — a period when symbolism and classical references were favored in decorative arts and sculpture. Bourgeois’ bronzes were admired for their elegance, narrative subtlety, and fine casting quality.

As a signed Max Bourgeois bronze figure with putti and torch, this piece embodies the artistic language of its era: allegory rendered in human form. The torch-bearing cherub suggests enlightenment or inspiration, while the woman’s gesture implies searching, hope, or vigilance. It is sculpture that invites interpretation.

For collectors of 19th-century French bronze sculpture, admirers of allegorical figural art, or designers seeking a commanding decorative statement, this bronze offers authenticity and narrative presence. It would command attention on a pedestal, console, or mantel — its patina catching the light just enough to reveal depth in every fold and contour.

It does not shout its story.

It waits — bronze made still, light held in a torch, a figure forever poised between shadow and illumination. See less