Portrait Of Juliette Récamier, Terracotta After Joseph Chinard.

This bust signed Houdon is actually by Joseph Chinard, the original is kept at the Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, it represents the ravishing Juliette Récamier as renowned for her beauty as for her Salon frequented by the most illustrious figures of the time. This bust has often been reproduced in terracotta or marble and even in biscuit. Nicknamed "the beauty of beauties", her bust was sculpted by Joseph Chinard at the very beginning of the 19th century. I found on the internet in the blog "un jour une œuvre" a perfect description of this sculpture, here it is: "Chinard executed it in front of his model during one of his stays in Paris in 1801 or 1802, when he was staying with the Récamiers. Juliette Récamier is represented when she was not yet 30 years old. The success of this portrait lies in its clever balance between simplicity and elegance, shyness and effrontery. The modest pose contrasts with the elegance of the sophisticated hairstyle. With her head delicately inclined and her gaze timidly directed downwards, Juliette Récamier modestly lifts her shawl, but the transparency of the latter reveals her chest more than it hides it. The model's pose and hairstyle highlight the sensuality of her neck and bare back and allow Chinard to exalt the legendary beauty of the beautiful Juliette. Joseph Chinard was born in Lyon on February 12, 1756, and died there on June 20, 1813. He was a student of Donat Nonotte and then of Barthélemy Blaise. He spent several years in Rome where he perfected his skills and in 1786 won the prize at the Academy of Saint Luke in Rome. Around 1802 he stayed in Paris with Juliette Récamier, of whom he painted several portraits. In 1807 he was appointed professor of sculpture at the special school of drawing in Lyon, where he held this position until his death in 1813 at the age of 57. He was awarded a gold medal at the Paris Salon of 1808 and his works are now exhibited in the most famous museums: the Musée des Beaux Arts in Grenoble, the Musée des Beaux Arts in Lyon, the Cognacq-Jay Museum in Paris, the Paul Getty Museum, the Stockholm Museum and the Château de Versailles. Good condition, some soiling to be noted. 19th century. Dimensions: height 60 cm, width 35 cm.