Alabaster Bust After Jean-baptiste Greuze. Carved Alabaster – Late 19th Century

Alabaster Bust after Jean-Baptiste Greuze. Carved alabaster – late 19th century. This charming bust of a young woman, carved in alabaster, is inspired by the aesthetic of the renowned French painter Jean-Baptiste Greuze, whose sensitive and gentle portraits of women profoundly influenced 18th-century European art. The figure is depicted with her head delicately inclined and her gaze lowered, a characteristic pose of the young women painted by Greuze, expressing great grace and a certain melancholy. This delicate posture was widely adopted by sculptors of the late 19th century, captivated by the sentimental charm of his compositions. The young woman wears a richly crafted headdress surmounted by a large bow, the meticulous decoration of which reveals fine sculptural work. The bust is adorned with a bodice enlivened by finely modeled, flowing drapery, embellished with a rose placed at the breast, adding a poetic touch to the whole. The modeling of the face is particularly successful: the delicate features, half-closed eyelids, and the inclination of the neck lend the sculpture a gentle and contemplative expression. The whole rests on an elegant turned pedestal, which emphasizes the silhouette of the bust and gives it a beautiful decorative presence. The alabaster displays lovely satiny reflections and a natural patina acquired over time, highlighting the finesse of the modeling and the softness of the volumes. A refined decorative sculpture, highly representative of the 19th-century taste for female busts inspired by 18th-century painting. Signed on the reverse. Height: 36 cm