Late 19th Century Bronze Small Portrait Bust of Diana De Poitiers, After Jean-Antoine Houdon

Details

Description

French School, Late 19th Century
Diana de Poitiers, After Jean-Antoine Houdon

Belle Époque French Bronze Portrait Bust on Breccia Marble

… Read more French School, Late 19th Century
Diana de Poitiers, After Jean-Antoine Houdon

Belle Époque French Bronze Portrait Bust on Breccia Marble

Highlights

• Elegant late 19th-century French bronze portrait sculpture
• Depicts Diana de Poitiers, celebrated Renaissance noblewoman
• Circa 1880
• After Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741–1828)
• Beautifully modelled coiffure and flowing drapery
• Warm naturally aged brown bronze patina
• Richly figured breccia marble base
• Refined cabinet-scale proportions
• Approximately 1.2 kg
• Private collection provenance
• Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®

Introduction

A beautifully decorative late 19th-century French bronze portrait bust depicting Diana de Poitiers, the celebrated noblewoman of Renaissance France.

Diana is portrayed with an elaborate coiffure, serene expression and gracefully flowing drapery, giving the sculpture a refined and aristocratic presence.

Catalogued as French School, circa 1880, after Jean-Antoine Houdon, the bust reflects the enduring influence of French historical portrait sculpture upon the decorative arts of the 19th century.

The warm brown bronze contrasts particularly well with the richly figured breccia marble base, making this an attractive statement piece for a library, mantelpiece, console, bookcase or collector's cabinet.

Catalogue Details

Artist: French School

Title: Diana de Poitiers

Date: Circa 1880

Medium: Cast bronze

Base: Breccia marble

Attribution: After Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741–1828)

Signature: Apparently unsigned

Subject: Diana de Poitiers

Weight: Approximately 1.2 kg

Catalogue Note

The sitter is portrayed in a graceful three-quarter bust with her head gently elevated.

Her softly modelled features are framed by an elaborate coiffure, while broad folds of drapery create movement through the lower composition.

The naturally aged bronze patina ranges from warm brown across exposed surfaces to deeper tonal passages within recessed areas of the hair and costume.

The square breccia marble base provides a luxurious decorative contrast, displaying reds, ochres, creams and darker natural mineral veining.

The combination of bronze and richly coloured stone creates an elegant decorative object equally suited to traditional, classical and eclectic interiors.

Diana de Poitiers

Diana de Poitiers (c. 1499–1566) was one of the most celebrated women of the French Renaissance and became closely associated with Henry II of France.

Renowned for her beauty, sophistication and influence at court, Diana subsequently became an enduring historical personality and a recurring subject within French art.

The 19th-century revival of interest in earlier periods of French history encouraged sculptors and bronze founders to revisit figures such as Diana through romantic and idealised portraiture.

After Jean-Antoine Houdon

Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741–1828) was among the most distinguished portrait sculptors in French art.

His refined approach to portraiture exerted a lasting influence, and sculptural models and compositions associated with his name continued to be interpreted by later workshops.

The present sculpture is described as **after Jean-Antoine Houdon**, reflecting its relationship with a Houdon-associated sculptural model or composition.

As the bronze is apparently unsigned and no identified foundry mark is known, it is not attributed directly to Houdon.

Provenance

Private collection.

Subsequently curated and presented by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.

No earlier documentary provenance or identified foundry record is currently known.

Dimensions

Overall height: 18.5 cm

Width: 9 cm

Depth: 6 cm

Base: 6.3 × 6.3 cm

Weight: Approximately 1.2 kg


Certificate of Sale

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

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