Marble Sculpture - Standing Sappho - James Pradier

An elegant white marble sculpture depicting Sappho standing, the work of the great sculptor James Pradier, a master of French Neoclassicism. This remarkably delicate piece perfectly illustrates the sensitivity and grace for which the artist was renowned. Height: 61 cm Width: 27.5 cm Depth: 23 cm Pradier, an academician and winner of the Prix de Rome, dedicated several works to the figure of Sappho, the Greek poetess, a symbol of beauty and melancholy. In this version, of rare elegance, Sappho stands, leaning slightly on a column, her gaze lowered, holding her lyre against her hip – an allegory of poetry and music. The drapery is exceptionally fine: the supple, precisely rendered folds of the garment harmoniously embrace the figure, revealing Pradier's masterful skill in rendering marble. The quality of the polishing, the softness of the forms, and the sensitivity of the pose lend this sculpture a presence of rare elegance. This marble version, measuring 61 cm in height, is distinguished by its museum-quality execution and remarkable state of preservation. The details of the face, hair, and ornamentation testify to highly skilled workshop work, faithful to the refined aesthetic of the artist. Marbles signed by James Pradier depicting Sappho standing are now highly sought after and rare on the market. This piece, with its perfect balance between classical rigor and romantic emotion, is a masterpiece of 19th-century French sculpture.