L'Hiver dates from the period of 1869-1873. The present carving directly relates to the two marbles from the 1867 Salon, Le Messie, a static and religious representation of motherhood, and Entre Deux Amours, an elegant and sensuous depiction of a similar subject. However, the signature, Carrier-Belleuse, indicates a date post 1868 when the sculptor began signing his name in that manner. The subject matter, the composition and the technical evidence further confirm a dating of the late 1860's or early 1870's. The pose of the two figures, their physiognomies and the heavy folds of the drapery contrasting with the fastidiousness of the natural elemnets are also evidence of the sculptor's overall refinement and attention to detail which were manifest in the 1870's. The formation of the base is also typical of Carrier-Belleuse's work from this period.

We are grateful to June Hargrove for her assistance in cataloguing this work.