.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Also known as Le Marchand de Plaisirs, the present group and its pendent La Couriosité or La Lanterne Magique, were first modeled by Etienne-Maurice Falconet in 1757. The subjects are taken from a lost painting of 1736 by François Boucher entitled La Foire de Village later engraved by Nicolas Cochin fils.
For a detailed discussion of these two models and a listing of public collections in which examples can be found, see Falconet à Sèvres 1757-1766 ou l'art de plaire, Musée Nationale de Céramique, Sèvres, 6 November 2001-4 February 2002, nos. 72 and 73. For other examples, see The Elizabeth Parke Firestone Collection, Christie's, New York, 21 March 1991, lot 125 (the pair); and Christie's, London, 11 December 2004, lot 396 (the present model only); and Treasures of France: From the Sun King to the Belle Epoque, Christie's, New York, 24 October 2012, lot 96.
For a detailed discussion of these two models and a listing of public collections in which examples can be found, see Falconet à Sèvres 1757-1766 ou l'art de plaire, Musée Nationale de Céramique, Sèvres, 6 November 2001-4 February 2002, nos. 72 and 73. For other examples, see The Elizabeth Parke Firestone Collection, Christie's, New York, 21 March 1991, lot 125 (the pair); and Christie's, London, 11 December 2004, lot 396 (the present model only); and Treasures of France: From the Sun King to the Belle Epoque, Christie's, New York, 24 October 2012, lot 96.