AN FRENCH/ITALIAN MARBLE FIGURE OF 'LA FILEUSE', ON PEDESTAL

Drawn from classical mythology, La Fileuse shows Fate spinning the destiny of man on her distaff: a spindle used to hold flax or wool for hand spinning thread. The subject was adopted in the 19th century by painters, such as J.W. Waterhouse, and sculptors, such as Carrier-Belleuse.