LATE 18TH EARLY 19TH CENTURY, IN THE MANNER OF JOSEPH-CHARLES MARIN

This celebrated model, traditionally associated with Claude Michel, dit Clodion was in actual fact more probably executed by the sculpteur Joseph-Charles Marin (1759-1843). Manufactured as both candelabra and as ornamental bronzes, this model was retailed by the prominent marchand-mercier Dominique Daguerre, who sold a pair of candelabra of this model in his 1791 sale at Christie's. In classical mythology, bacchantes were the female devotees of Bacchus, god of wine, and like their male equivalents the satyrs, always followed him on his travels.

A closely related pair of Bacchante is in the Wallace Collection. standing on verde antico plinths, they are discussed in R. Wenley, French bronzes in the Wallace Collection, London, 2002, pp. 90-91 (S215-6). The Wallace also owns a pair of Bacchante candelabra of this model (F148-9).