.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
En 1863, Napoléon III commande à Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux une série de sculptures pour la façade sud du Pavillon de Flore au Louvre dans le cadre de sa campagne ambitieuse d'expansion et de rénovation. Le groupe actuel est une variante de la figure centrale du relief représentant le "Triomphe de Flore", encore visible in situ sur le toit de la façade donnant sur la Seine. S'inspirant des modèles antiques des Vénus accroupies, la Flore jubilante est l'une des nombreuses commandes publiques importantes que Carpeaux a réalisées à Paris et est certainement une de ses plus célèbres. Le modèle actuel diffère de la figure centrale de la Flore sur la façade du Louvre, principalement dans le placement de ses mains et la position inversée de ses jambes. Il a été produit pour la première fois en 1872 et l'on connait dix exemples en terre cuite de cette taille réalisés au cours de la vie du sculpteur.
In 1863, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux was commissioned to create a series of sculptures for the southern façade of the Pavillon de Flore at the Louvre as part of Napoleon III's ambitious renovation and expansion campaign. The present group is a variation of the central figure from the 'Triomphe de Flore', still visible in situ on the roofline of the façade fronting the Seine. Inspired by antique models of the crouching Venus, Carpeaux's jubilant Flora was one of the many important public commissions he would execute in Paris, and is certainly one of his most celebrated. The present model - differing from the central figure of Flora on the faade of the Louvre primarily in the placement of her hands and reversed position of her legs - was first produced in 1872. Ten examples in terracotta of this size are known to have been made during the sculptor's lifetime.
In 1863, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux was commissioned to create a series of sculptures for the southern façade of the Pavillon de Flore at the Louvre as part of Napoleon III's ambitious renovation and expansion campaign. The present group is a variation of the central figure from the 'Triomphe de Flore', still visible in situ on the roofline of the façade fronting the Seine. Inspired by antique models of the crouching Venus, Carpeaux's jubilant Flora was one of the many important public commissions he would execute in Paris, and is certainly one of his most celebrated. The present model - differing from the central figure of Flora on the faade of the Louvre primarily in the placement of her hands and reversed position of her legs - was first produced in 1872. Ten examples in terracotta of this size are known to have been made during the sculptor's lifetime.