Large Stone Sculpture - Geneviève Pagano - Draped Female Torso - Masterpiece Of Fine Arts

Large Stone Sculpture by Geneviève Pagano, Draped Female Torso - Masterpiece of Fine Arts. A moving stone sculpture by the prematurely deceased artist Geneviève Pagano (Tarn, †1944). Height: 87 cm Base: 40 x 32 cm Weight: approximately 100 kg Material: direct carving Provenance: family estate. This imposing, fragmentary female torso is executed in the grand tradition of French Neoclassical sculpture of the interwar period. Created as a graduation masterpiece at the École des Beaux-Arts, this work demonstrates exceptional mastery of direct carving and refined artistic sensibility. The sculpture presents a partial female body, headless, with a partially preserved arm, evoking the antique fragments that fascinated modern sculptors. The anatomical modeling, rendered with masterful naturalism, engages in a dialogue with a subtle stylization that anchors the work in the modernity of the 1930s. The drapery encircling the hips, executed with remarkable virtuosity, reveals a profound knowledge of classical statuary. The rough, deliberately unhewn base creates a striking contrast with the finished body, illustrating the transition from raw material to sublime form—a theme dear to Rodin and modern sculptors. The work belongs to the lineage of Aristide Maillol and French Neoclassical sculpture, characterized by the search for a balance between monumentality and sensuality, solidity of volume and feminine grace. Direct carving, a demanding technique favored by modern sculptors, testifies to a commitment to the "truth of the materials." This sculpture takes on a particularly poignant dimension as a testament to the talent of an artist who died young, before she could fully develop her career. A masterpiece of academic craftsmanship, it represents a little-known milestone in French sculpture between the two world wars. Contact me for delivery as the work is extremely heavy.