After Clodion, Bacchus with Cymbals, Late 19th Century, Bronze

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Description

This bronze with a green patina of the young Bacchus, modeled with Clodion's characteristic sensual virtuosity, appears here in all … Read more This bronze with a green patina of the young Bacchus, modeled with Clodion's characteristic sensual virtuosity, appears here in all the freshness of a Bacchic genius, seated with natural ease on a rocky mound enlivened by foliage and bunches of vines. His delicately chubby child's body captures the light in a subtle interplay of curves and volumes, revealing the sculptor's mastery in the art of rendering flesh vibrant through bronze. His head encircled by a crown of leaves and fruit, he tilts his youthful face slightly, its gentle, pouting features expressing carefree abandon. In each hand, he raises small cymbals, as if caught in the midst of an impromptu dance, a gesture that lends the composition an inner movement, a festive pulse typical of the Dionysian world. The vegetal drapery surrounding his hips, rendered with precision, reinforces the harmony between the figure and nature, a theme dear to the artist. The richly textured base extends this fusion, evoking a miniature landscape where the vine, a symbol of fertility and abundance, seems to flourish under the influence of the young god. The whole exudes a light elegance, a vibrant poetry, where technical virtuosity serves a profoundly hedonistic and luminous vision of the ancient world. Clodion's signature is engraved on the base. This bronze, through the finesse of its modeling and the spontaneous grace of its composition, fully embodies the late Rococo spirit.

Clodion (1738–1814), an emblematic French sculptor of the Rococo period, is famous for his mythological scenes in terracotta. Winner of the Prix de Rome, he shines with his graceful style, marked by lively and sensual compositions. His work embodies the elegance of the 18th century.

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Period: Second half of the 19th century

Good condition

Dimensions:
Width: 14 cm
Depth: 11 cm
Height: 17 cm
Weight: 2 kg See less