La baigneuse (The bather)

In 1893 the Franco-Mauritian sculptor, Prosper d'Epinay, held a sale of his work in Paris to pay off his gambling debts. Two marble version of La baigneuse were included in that 'Vente d'Epinay'. The charmingly convincing catalogue entry for the marble reads: 'Une jeune Grecque, arrêtée près d’une fontaine avant d’entrer dans l’onde, retire sa tunique avec un mouvement plein de grace et se laisse voir dans toute la beauté de ses formes classique et réalistes./ Ne représente-t-elle pas la femme à l’apogée de la beauté?'
In addition to the original plaster, only three marble versions are known to have been produced: one unsigned example now housed in the Collection de la Mauritius Commerical Bank, Port Louis, Mauritius; one unsigned model that has not been located since its sale in the Vente d'Epinay, 1893; and the present lot, which is unique in its slightly taller dimensions.