French Bronze Silver Gilt Statue With Pair Putties Signed Falconet

Details

Description

19th-Century French Patinated Bronze Sculpture of Putti After Étienne-Maurice Falconet
Add a touch of classical European romance to your collection … Read more 19th-Century French Patinated Bronze Sculpture of Putti After Étienne-Maurice Falconet
Add a touch of classical European romance to your collection with this exquisite 19th-century French patinated bronze figural sculpture after the legendary master Étienne-Maurice Falconet (1716–1791). Titled La Lutte Pour le Cœur (The Struggle for the Heart) or Cupids Fighting Over a Heart, this captivating work beautifully captures the playful, lighthearted, yet deeply allegorical spirit of late-period Rococo design.

Sculptural Mastery & Fine Details
Cast in high-quality bronze with a rich, multi-toned silvered and warm patinated finish, this piece features two beautifully modeled cherubs (putti) locked in a spirited, dynamic wrestle. One winged figure playfully restrains the other as they scramble over a human heart resting on the ground between them.

The attention to detail is remarkable: from the soft, lifelike definition of their childish anatomy to the intricately chased curls of their hair and the delicate, feathered textures of their wings. The sculpture is grounded by a textured, naturalistic terrain base strewn with foliage, a discarded bow, and a quiver of arrows. The bronze is prominently signed "Falconet" on the lower edge and stands elegantly on a highly polished, circular dark green marble plinth.

Decor Styling & Placement
With its classic Grand Tour aesthetic and refined proportions, this bronze figural group makes a spectacular statement piece. It is perfectly scaled for display on:

An executive desk, library table, or writing bureau.

A living room mantelpiece flanked by classical candelabra.

A grand entryway console table or salon vitrine.

Its universal theme of love and human emotion, rendered with effortless French elegance, ensures it serves as an instant conversation starter in traditional, Neoclassical, or eclectic contemporary interiors.

Who Was Étienne-Maurice Falconet?
Étienne-Maurice Falconet (1716–1791) was one of the most prominent French sculptors of the 18th century, celebrated for his ability to blend the whimsical, theatrical charm of the Rococo movement with the clean symmetry of emerging Neoclassicism.

Born into a poor Parisian family, Falconet’s innate talent for modeling clay caught the eye of the royal sculptor Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, who took him under his wing. Falconet quickly rose through the ranks of the Académie Royale, ultimately winning the lifelong patronage of Madame de Pompadour, King Louis XV’s influential mistress.

Through her influence, Falconet was appointed as the director of the sculpture department at the Royal Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory from 1757 to 1766. There, he revolutionized French decorative arts by designing small-scale table sculptures, elegant nymphs, and mischievous cupids that were reproduced in porcelain, marble, and bronze for the elite of European society.

While he is internationally renowned for his colossal monument The Bronze Horseman (the iconic equestrian statue of Peter the Great in St. Petersburg), Falconet’s true legacy lies in his intimate, allegorical bedroom and salon sculptures. Works like The Menacing Cupid and The Struggle for the Heart remain benchmarks of French art history, eagerly collected for their unparalleled ability to capture pure charm, motion, and human emotion in stone and metal.

Period: 19th Century

Place of Origin: France

Materials: Patinated Bronze, Silvered Bronze, Green Variegated Marble

Subject: Allegorical Cupids / Putti Fighting over a Heart

Signature: Inscribed "Falconet" on the bronze base

Dimensions: 13 inches high x 8.5 inches wide x 8 inches deep. See less