Adolphe Jean Lavergne (1863–1928), *the Snake Charmer*
Artist: Adolphe Jean Lavergne (1863-1928)
Bronze with a brown patina on the figure and a gold patina on the snake, signed LAVERGNE.
France, circa 1900.
Dimensions
Height 54 cm
Width 25 cm
Depth 16 cm
Description
The Snake Charmer is an iconic sculpture reflecting the late 19th-century taste for exoticism and Orientalism. Through a slender, perfectly rendered male figure, Adolphe Jean Lavergne combines academic elegance, sensuality, and a sense of movement.
The figure, captured in a suspended moment, interacts with the snake coiled around his flute, evoking at once music, mastery, and man’s fascination with the animal. The precise modeling, balanced anatomy, and subtle tension of the pose attest to the sculptor’s great technical skill.
Crafted in bronze with a nuanced brown patina, the work captivates with the delicacy of its forms, the richness of its details, and the depth of its patina, which accentuates the refinement and sensuality of the composition.
With its elegance, restrained exoticism, and strong decorative presence, *The Snake Charmer* is a particularly attractive piece for a refined interior or a collection dedicated to French sculpture of the Belle Époque.
Biography
Adolphe Jean Lavergne (1863–1928) was a French sculptor representative of the great figurative tradition of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1863, he trained within the French academic tradition and became a student of the sculptor Jouffroy, a direct heir to the classical teachings of the École des Beaux-Arts. This rigorous training left a lasting mark on his work, characterized by a masterful command of modeling and a particular focus on the expressiveness of his figures.
Lavergne exhibited at the Paris Salon, the premier venue for artistic recognition in his time, and was fully aligned with the realist and naturalist movements then in vogue. He distinguished himself through his figure sculptures, genre scenes, and busts—often inspired by popular, mythological, or historical figures—which he rendered with sensitivity and precision.
His work is best known for its finely chiseled bronzes, characterized by a harmonious balance between dynamism, elegant poses, and exquisite detail. The expressions, drapery, and postures reflect a genuine concern for life and movement, giving his sculptures a presence that is both decorative and expressive.
Some of his works are held in public collections, notably in the Dordogne, a region to which he remained attached. Today, sculptures signed “A. J. Lavergne” or “Lavergne” are sought after by collectors of French Belle Époque sculpture for their quality of craftsmanship and timeless charm.
France, circa 1900.
Dimensions
Height 54 cm
Width 25 cm
Depth 16 cm
Description
The Snake Charmer is an iconic sculpture reflecting the late 19th-century taste for exoticism and Orientalism. Through a slender, perfectly rendered male figure, Adolphe Jean Lavergne combines academic elegance, sensuality, and a sense of movement.
The figure, captured in a suspended moment, interacts with the snake coiled around his flute, evoking at once music, mastery, and man’s fascination with the animal. The precise modeling, balanced anatomy, and subtle tension of the pose attest to the sculptor’s great technical skill.
Crafted in bronze with a nuanced brown patina, the work captivates with the delicacy of its forms, the richness of its details, and the depth of its patina, which accentuates the refinement and sensuality of the composition.
With its elegance, restrained exoticism, and strong decorative presence, *The Snake Charmer* is a particularly attractive piece for a refined interior or a collection dedicated to French sculpture of the Belle Époque.
Biography
Adolphe Jean Lavergne (1863–1928) was a French sculptor representative of the great figurative tradition of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1863, he trained within the French academic tradition and became a student of the sculptor Jouffroy, a direct heir to the classical teachings of the École des Beaux-Arts. This rigorous training left a lasting mark on his work, characterized by a masterful command of modeling and a particular focus on the expressiveness of his figures.
Lavergne exhibited at the Paris Salon, the premier venue for artistic recognition in his time, and was fully aligned with the realist and naturalist movements then in vogue. He distinguished himself through his figure sculptures, genre scenes, and busts—often inspired by popular, mythological, or historical figures—which he rendered with sensitivity and precision.
His work is best known for its finely chiseled bronzes, characterized by a harmonious balance between dynamism, elegant poses, and exquisite detail. The expressions, drapery, and postures reflect a genuine concern for life and movement, giving his sculptures a presence that is both decorative and expressive.
Some of his works are held in public collections, notably in the Dordogne, a region to which he remained attached. Today, sculptures signed “A. J. Lavergne” or “Lavergne” are sought after by collectors of French Belle Époque sculpture for their quality of craftsmanship and timeless charm.
1 100 €
Period: 20th century
Style: Orientalism
Condition: Excellent condition
Material: Bronze
Width: 25 cm
Height: 54 cm
Depth: 16 cm
Reference (ID): 1808760
Availability: In stock
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