Bust Of The Famous Star Dancer Of The Paris Opera, Marie-madeleine Guimard (1743–1816)

White alabaster bust resting on a sea green marble base.
Circa 1900

Dimensions
Height 38 cm.
Width 28 cm.
Depth 20 cm.

This alabaster sculpture depicts Marie-Madeleine Guimard (1743–1816), a celebrated prima ballerina at the Paris Opera and muse of the Enlightenment. Known for her legendary grace and her relationships with the greats of the time (notably the Prince de Soubise and Jacques-Louis David), she was one of the major social figures of the 18th century.

This bust illustrates the delicacy of her carriage, her sensual elegance, and the subtlety of her expression, somewhere between melancholy and detached charm. The richly curled hair, adorned with a bow, as well as the silky drapery falling over her bare shoulders, demonstrate a remarkable mastery in the treatment of the material.