A MARBLE FIGURE OF LEDA AND THE SWAN

FRENCH, 18TH CENTURY, A FOLLOWER OF ETIENNE-MAURICE FALCONET

Details
A MARBLE FIGURE OF LEDA AND THE SWAN
French, 18th Century, A Follower of Etienne-Maurice Falconet
Leda stands before the swan which is perched above a tree stump, above a stepped marble plinth
14in. (36cm.) high
Provenance
Property of Comte Charles de Rohan-Chabot, sold Parke-Bernet, 20-21 March 1953, lot 281

Lot Essay

Comparative Literature:
G. Levitine, The Sculpture of Falconet, Connecticut, 1972, figs. 20-30

The pose, physiognomy and facial type are all inspired by Falconet and reflect the popularity of his work. The present piece was originally paired with a figure of a woman holding doves (possibly Venus).

Other pairs of these figures were reputedly in the collections of Sir William Hamilton, King Ferdinand I, his daughter H.R.H. Maria Amelia, King Louis Philippe of France and other notable collections.