AFTER THE MODEL BY JAMES PRADIER (1790-1852), LATE 19TH CENTURY

In 1846, the celebrated French sculptor, James Pradier, created pendant figures celebrating the allegory of Day and Night, including 'Étoile du Berger, Le Jour’ and 'Étoile du Berger, La Nuit’ and a nearly identical pair of figures 'Le Jour’ and 'La Nuit,’ (C. Lapaire, James Pradier (1790-1852) et la sculpture française de la génération romantique, Milan, 2010, p. 358 no. 292-293 and p. 440-441, no. 538-539). All were likely inspired by the compositions of Joseph-Michel-Ange Pollet (1814-1870) who, in 1848, showed a large plaster group at the Salon 'Une Heure de la Nuit’ (no. 4875) which anticipates the graceful curves of the present group.