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Lot Essay
Comparative Literature:
L. Rau, Les Lemoyne, Paris, 1927
During the 1730s, Lemoyne was one of the preeminent decorative and monumental sculptors in France. He was also considered to be one of the most outstanding portrait sculptors of the mid-18th century and left behind a remarkable series of portrait busts of his contemporaries. He enjoyed the patronage of Louis XV and received numerous commissions for busts of the royal family, members of society, doctors, scientists, artists and writers.
Many qualities of the present lot relate to other known busts by Lemoyne. The lightness of the drapery, the fullness of her face and the position of her upraised head are typical of Lemoyne's oeuvre. In addition, her neatly arched eyebrows and direct gaze, and the treatment of her elaborately styled and drilled hair closely relate to other busts by Lemoyne including those of the actresses Mlles Dangeville and Clairon, from the Muse Comedie-Francaise, Paris (Rau, op.cit, nos. 103-104).
L. Rau, Les Lemoyne, Paris, 1927
During the 1730s, Lemoyne was one of the preeminent decorative and monumental sculptors in France. He was also considered to be one of the most outstanding portrait sculptors of the mid-18th century and left behind a remarkable series of portrait busts of his contemporaries. He enjoyed the patronage of Louis XV and received numerous commissions for busts of the royal family, members of society, doctors, scientists, artists and writers.
Many qualities of the present lot relate to other known busts by Lemoyne. The lightness of the drapery, the fullness of her face and the position of her upraised head are typical of Lemoyne's oeuvre. In addition, her neatly arched eyebrows and direct gaze, and the treatment of her elaborately styled and drilled hair closely relate to other busts by Lemoyne including those of the actresses Mlles Dangeville and Clairon, from the Muse Comedie-Francaise, Paris (Rau, op.cit, nos. 103-104).