Lot Essay
The present pair of figures relate very closely to a life-size lead figure of Aesop by Legros in the Labyrinthe at Versailles. Comparison to a very similar pair of reduced bronze figures representing Thales and another philosopher, (Sotheby's, London, 9 July, 2002, lot 118) suggests that they were probably formerly part of a series of philosophers executed by Legros' workshop at the end of the 17th century.