AFTER THE MODEL BY CLAUDE MICHEL CLODION (1738-1814), LATE 18TH CENTURY

This bronze relief is both visually arresting and a significant late 18th century work closely tied to the work of Clodion. It is, at the same time, of extremely large size yet also worked with the most precise detail. And is, therefore, as impressive a work of sculpture as it is a piece of furniture. The scene is taken from the central section of a relief provided by Clodion for the facade of the hôtel de Bouret de Vézelay, Clodion's first important architectural commission in Paris. While Clodion's terracotta reliefs were executed around 1775 as models for the stone facade, they were not exhibited until the Salon of 1779. The original relief is today in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris and the terracotta is in the Copenhagen museum (see G. Scherf, op. cit., pp. 180-187). Both the size and quality of the present relief make it possible it was produced with the approval of Clodion, and, at the very least, by a talented contemporary.