Les violettes

François Raoul Larche is perhaps best known for his dynamic Art Nouveau works, epitomized by his depictions of Loïe Fuller. Larche studied at the l'Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1878, before debuting his work at the Société des Artistes Français in 1881, and exhibiting regularly at the Salon between 1884 and 1911. Les violettes was commissioned by the French government, and it was exhibited at both the Paris Salon of 1899 and the Exposition Universelle in 1900, where he was awarded the gold medal for sculpture. The original plaster group is conserved in the Museé d’Orsay, while another gilt bronze group of the same sold Christie’s, London, 11 May 2000 (£30,550).