Large Bust Of Jean De La Fontaine, After Louis-pierre Deseine

Antique plaster cast from the Louvre's plaster workshops, late 19th century. Important plaster bust of Jean de La Fontaine, the celebrated French fabulist and major figure of 17th-century classical literature. This model is based on the portrait sculpted by Louis Pierre Deseine, a French sculptor active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His interpretation of La Fontaine became one of the most widely circulated sculpted images of the poet. La Fontaine is depicted wearing a long, curly wig characteristic of the fashion of the Grand Siècle. His face, with its meditative and slightly turned gaze, emerges from ample drapery whose supple folds reflect the quality of the modeling of the original. Our example is an early plaster cast from the Louvre Museum's plaster workshops, as indicated by the stamp visible on the reverse: "Musée du Louvre – Reproduction prohibited – Plaster workshops". Founded at the end of the 18th century and particularly active in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Louvre's plaster casting workshops were dedicated to disseminating the masterpieces of sculpture held in the national collections. Casts were made directly from the original models and intended for art schools, institutions, and discerning collectors. Our example can be dated to the late 19th century, a period during which these casts enjoyed widespread circulation in artistic and cultural circles. The bust now displays a beautiful antique patina, which gives the plaster an almost stone-like appearance and particularly highlights the work on the curls of the hair as well as the depth of the drapery. Provenance: Former private collection. This bust comes from the Théâtre de la Madeleine in Paris, where it was previously housed. Due to its substantial size and strong decorative presence, this sculpture is an ideal piece for a library, study, or classical interior. Dimensions: Height: 75 cm Width: 58 cm Depth: 30 cm Very good condition with antique patina.