Love and the Butterfly

In the present work, Piazza has deliberately chosen to bring to three dimensional life to one of William Adolphe Bouguereau's captivating compositions titled L'Amour au papillon from 1888 (fig. 1). Similarly numerous sculptors have produced marble, alabaster and bronze casts after famous works by Bouguereau, such as the magnificent L'Amour vainqueur.

Recently a similar marble statue after Bouguereau's L'Amour au papillon was sold at Christie's, New York, 27 October 2004, lot 158.

(fig 1.) William Adolphe Bouguereau, L'Amour au papillon, Private Collection.