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Lot Essay
This group is a variation of a marble which is presently attributed to the sculptor Pierre Philippe Thomire (1751-1843). In the version by Thomire, the arrangement of the arms of the two putti is slightly different, and they are fighting over a heart, which has been replaced here by a bunch of roses. In sentiment, the composition is entirely characteristic of the playful mood of the French rococo which was swept away by the Revolution at the end of the 18th century.
The signature on the reverse of this base is a testament to the popularity of the artist Clodion, who was a contemporary of Thomire. Although the finer details of this work is not particularly characteristic of his oeuvre, models by Clodion were in such demand in his lifetime, and subsequently in the late 19th and 20th centuries, that it is probable that this signature was added to the base to increase its desirability to potential buyers.
The signature on the reverse of this base is a testament to the popularity of the artist Clodion, who was a contemporary of Thomire. Although the finer details of this work is not particularly characteristic of his oeuvre, models by Clodion were in such demand in his lifetime, and subsequently in the late 19th and 20th centuries, that it is probable that this signature was added to the base to increase its desirability to potential buyers.