Torr Antiques & Decorative Arts

Description

An impressive and fine quality late 19th century Grand Tour bronze of a seated young woman draped in Greek attire on an oval rouge marble plinth. The woman is seated on a low stool, her legs crossed, her right hand resting against a cheek while the left hand holds a scroll. This is a substantial sculpture weighing over 12 kg.

We believe this is a model of Sappho, a Greek female poet, after James Pradier (1790-1852), but it is rare version as we have only been able to track down one other example and that was indeed attributed to Pradier. Much more commonly seen are bronzes after the marble sculpture of Sappho by Pradier in Musée D'Orsay, where she is portrayed seated with head facing downwards, both arms around her crossed legs and with a lyre resting against the low stool at her back.

Virgil, the Greek poet, is often portrayed as seated on a stool, cross-legged with the left hand holding a scroll as in our composition, so it is likely that this provided the inspiration for our sculptor, presumed to be Pradier, in this representation of Sappho.

Sappho of Lesbos was well-known and greatly admired throughout antiquity as one of the greatest of poets and musicians. Images of Sappho are usually accompanied by a lyre as she is known in particular for her lyric poetry, written to be sung and accompanied by a lyre. This version lacks a lyre and instead focuses on the poetry.


Dimensions: Height including plinth 31 cm
Plinth 37 x 26 cm
Bronze Height 27 X Width 27 x Depth 16 cm

Weight 12.356 kg

Condition: Fine antique condition and beautifully patinated

Postage & packing: £20 within the UK