Large Grotesque In The Shape Of A Half-moon - France, 17th Century

Large grotesque in the shape of a half-moon

On a posterior cement base

Limestone

France, 17th century

72 x 42 x 51 cm

This striking grotesque, carved from limestone, takes the unusual form of a half-moon, blending architectural ornament with fantastical imagination. Typical of 17th-century French decorative sculpture, the piece likely adorned a façade or a cornice, serving both structural and symbolic roles. Its exaggerated features and expressive contours exemplify the Baroque era’s fascination with the theatrical and the bizarre, channeling the grotesque tradition inherited from the Renaissance. Slightly weathered by time, the sculpture retains a powerful presence, a testament to its craftsmanship and dramatic intent.