Henry Dasson - Love And Venus - Louis XVI Style Clock In Gilt Bronze And White Marble

An elegant white marble and gilt bronze mantel clock, attributed to Henry Dasson, France, late 19th century, circa 1900. Louis XVI style – after an 18th-century model. A very similar Louis XVI model is held at the Musée Carnavalet, History of Paris.** A superb white marble and gilt bronze mantel clock depicting Venus, shown standing in a graceful pose, delicately lifting the drapery that envelops her. She leans towards a cherub perched on a flowery cloud, whom she embraces and kisses tenderly. To the right, a second cherub, slightly withdrawn, observes the scene with contemplative gentleness. Together, they form a sculptural ensemble of remarkable charm and elegance, directly inspired by iconic 18th-century models. The oval white marble base is adorned with a particularly refined bas-relief frieze depicting four putti bustling around braided garlands, reminiscent of the most accomplished neoclassical decorations. The whole is supported by delicate gilt-bronze feet, and the clock case blends harmoniously beneath the cloud, in an architectural composition typical of the Louis XVI style. An attribution to Henry Dasson, perfectly justified. On the reverse of the bronzes appears the monogram “HD”, identical to that found on several pieces from the workshop of Henry Dasson (1825–1896). The exceptional quality of the chasing – the fineness of the drapery, the modeling of the flesh, the precision of the wings and clouds – as well as the richness of the gilding, fully meet the criteria of this great Parisian firm's productions. Henry Dasson is renowned for his masterful reinterpretations of 18th-century masterpieces, and several models very similar to this one are listed among his late 19th-century works. The stylistic similarities, the quality of execution, and the presence of the monogram make the attribution to Dasson not only plausible but particularly strong. A model rooted in Louis XVI creations: This clock adopts a theme and structure widely used in the 18th century, and an almost identical Louis XVI-era model is held at the Musée Carnavalet, attesting to the longevity and prestige of this iconographic type. As was often the case at the end of the 19th century, the great Parisian bronze workers, including Dasson, produced refined versions of these major creations of neoclassicism. Dimensions: Height: approx. 40 cm. Clock in excellent condition, combining quality, refinement and a highly credible attribution to one of the greatest Parisian bronze workers of the second half of the 19th century.