Bronze — 80 × 35 × 24 cm. This remarkable bronze sculpture by Aimé-Jules Aizelin depicts a nymph of Diana, goddess of the hunt, captured in a graceful movement imbued with mythological elegance. Fluidly draped, the nymph advances with a refined posture, carrying Diana's quiver on her back, a symbol of her close bond with the goddess. In accordance with ancient tradition, she is accompanied by a finely modeled greyhound—an emblem of vigilance, fidelity, and the sacred relationship between the goddess and her animals. The dog's strikingly naturalistic anatomical rendering enriches the scene with a narrative dimension and remarkable sculptural refinement. The bronze displays exceptional modeling, crisp details, and harmonious proportions, characteristic of the craftsmanship for which Aizelin is particularly esteemed. The rocky base is inscribed "Nymph of Diana" and bears the foundry's classic medallion, attesting to the quality of the casting and the prestige of the workshop. Aizelin, a major figure in the French academic tradition and a regular exhibitor at the Salon from 1852 onward, is renowned for his exquisitely detailed mythological creations. This sculpture, of impressive size and superb execution, is a remarkable example of his work—decorative, artistic, and worthy of a discerning collection.
Additional Information (F. Barbedienne & Mechanical Reduction):
The bronze bears the foundry mark “F. Barbedienne, Fondeur, Paris”, together with the number 958, a typical inventory or model reference used by the Barbedienne foundry for larger editions.
The sculpture also features the “Réduction Mécanique Collas” medallion, showing the profile of Achille Collas. This hallmark confirms that the work was produced using Collas’ innovative mechanical reduction process — a prestigious technique adopted by Barbedienne to create exceptionally precise and finely detailed reductions of original sculptures.
