Night and Day

Representing night and day attended by cherubs, the present pair of near lifesize statues were produced circa 1900 by the Italian firm of Chiurazzi. The model is derived from works by James Pradier, on the basis of a comparison with a pair of similar pendant figures, 'Étoile du Berger, Le Jour’ and 'Étoile du Berger, La Nuit’ and a nearly identical pair of figures attributed to him (C. Lapaire, James Pradier (1790-1852) et la sculpture française de la génération romantique, Milan, 2010, p. 358 no. 292-293 and p. 440-441, no. 538-539). All were likely inspired by the compositions of Joseph-Michel-Ange Pollet (1814-1870) who, in 1848, showed a large plaster group at the Salon 'Une Heure de la Nuit’ (no. 4875) which anticipates the graceful curves of the present sculptures. Other Italian studios also produced the model, as evidenced by a pair of marble figures signed by Pietrò Franchi, dated to the last quarter of the 19th century, and sold Christie’s, London, 27 September 2007, lot 54.