Clodion 1738-1814 - Rare Bas-relief Sculpture - Mythology Scene With Nymph & Satyrs

An interesting late 18th-century terracotta bas-relief, set within a hollowed-out oak panel, depicts a scene from Greco-Roman mythology with a nude nymph playing with two small satyrs... The work is signed in the lower right corner by the famous sculptor Clodion (1738-1814), to whom the Bénézit dictionary devotes a significant chapter and whose biography can be found on Wikipedia... Claude Michel, known as Clodion: originally from Nancy, Clodion belonged to a dynasty of renowned sculptors, including his two brothers Sigisbert François (1728-1811) and Pierre Joseph Michel (1737-1787), who assisted him throughout his career. They would notably model numerous small terracotta figures based on mythological drawings that "Clodion" had brought back from Italy. Indeed, after winning the Prix de Rome (1759), where Clodion resided for 10 years, he achieved recognition and fame in France under the reign of Louis XVI, receiving commissions from the entire aristocracy and bourgeoisie of the time. The French Revolution literally ruined the family business, and "Clodion's" work fell into oblivion before being rediscovered in the mid-19th century by the Goncourt brothers. Note: this bas-relief seems quite rare, as a web search has not revealed any exactly comparable themes, which gives it a certain originality. There are, however, works such as "Satyr and Little Satyrs" created using the same technique, notably a small, unsigned bas-relief sold at Christie's in 2012. (13.8 cm x 7.5 cm) sold for €12,500 including fees, or the one held by the Besançon Museum... - it should be noted that there is a complex classification system for the works of "Clodion," as can be seen with two quite comparable terracotta pieces, but classified differently by the Cleveland Museum of Art (USA) and the Louvre Museum (Paris)... collectors are advised to conduct their own research by consulting an expert of their choice directly: for this artist, some terracotta pieces fetch staggering prices at auction! Size (visible area): 23.5 cm x 16 cm Frame: 32 cm x 24 cm - ask me for more photos if needed -