Simona Oprea
Head of Oriental Art, Traditional Art & Carpets Evaluation Office; Chinese Language Certificate HSK 4
The photos of the lot are informative and indicative, and cannot provide a highly detailed view of the object from all angles. We recommend a careful physical inspection of the lot before bidding.
The photos of the lot are informative and indicative, and cannot provide a highly detailed view of the object from all angles. We recommend a careful physical inspection of the lot before bidding.
34. Venus and Amor
1822, Dijon, Franţa - 1912, Paris, Franța
Estimate
Pretul de pornire si cel estimat nu sunt preturi de vanzare efective
EUR 1.000 - 1.800
Sold
Pretul de pornire si cel estimat nu sunt preturi de vanzare efective
EUR 1.500
Session
Thu, 11 April 2024 19:00
Brought to you by
With roots in an imposing French artist family, Mathurin Moreau also stood out as a representative sculptor of academic art. His father was the sculptor Jean-Baptise-Louis-Joseph Moreau, who guided his first steps in art; his brothers were the artists Hippolyte and Auguste Moreau. Mathurin Moreau won a first prize at the Rome exhibition at just 21 years old. He then exhibited at the Salons in Paris and was awarded at the Salon organized in 1897. He dedicated more time to public sculptures, which he exhibited both in France and in Geneva, Liverpool, Peru or Buenos Aires. In 1855, Queen Victoria was gifted sculptures signed by Mathurin Moreau representing allegories of the seasons. His artistic career intertwined with that of a politician, the artist holding the position of mayor of the 19th arrondissement of Paris from 1879 until 1912, the year of his death. Also this year, a street in Paris was renamed in his memory. His sculpture is remarkable for the finesse of execution and for the sentimental charge the artist manages to embed in the hardness of the materials. The elegance of the form enhances the precision of execution and reveals us subjects taken from mythology like Daphnis and Chloe, the goddess Diana or the famous pair Venus and Amor. Upon closer inspection, we will notice that the sculptor offered different interpretations to the aforementioned pair. In this work, we find protective Venus, holding little Amoras in her arms. In other works, Amor is depicted offering Venus the shell loaded with water; or Venus confiscating Cupid's arrow. Daughter of Jupiter and goddess of love and fertility, Venus will be a popular subject among artists. Born from waves and sea foam, she will sometimes be represented as a nymph, and other times we will notice the allegory of the shell from which the goddess appears. The etymology of her name branches out through a nature of seduction, a potion of love, or a feminine element with aquatic features. Over time, several statues depicting the goddess were discovered, fact that will lead to her recognition as a standard of beauty. The works of art will illustrate the goddess usually accompanied by her son with Mercury: Cupid (or Amor in Latin poetry), the god of desire, armed with a bow and several arrows. Portrayed as the little child with wings, carrying a bow and arrows, he will be illustrated mostly as a playful Cupid, who runs after butterflies or flirts with nymphs. His arrows become a symbol of love that begins unexpectedly and can overwhelm the bearer of deep feelings. We are therefore dealing with a dynamic duo, which has the mission to reiterate the importance of affection and the state of euphoria given off by it.
Dimensions
depth 13 cm, width 29 cm, height 30 cm
Description
bronze, signed on the right side, on the base, "Moreau"
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.
For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.
Detalii
With roots in an imposing French artist family, Mathurin Moreau also stood out as a representative sculptor of academic art. His father was the sculptor Jean-Baptise-Louis-Joseph Moreau, who guided his first steps in art; his brothers were the artists Hippolyte and Auguste Moreau. Mathurin Moreau won a first prize at the Rome exhibition at just 21 years old. He then exhibited at the Salons in Paris and was awarded at the Salon organized in 1897. He dedicated more time to public sculptures, which he exhibited both in France and in Geneva, Liverpool, Peru or Buenos Aires. In 1855, Queen Victoria was gifted sculptures signed by Mathurin Moreau representing allegories of the seasons. His artistic career intertwined with that of a politician, the artist holding the position of mayor of the 19th arrondissement of Paris from 1879 until 1912, the year of his death. Also this year, a street in Paris was renamed in his memory. His sculpture is remarkable for the finesse of execution and for the sentimental charge the artist manages to embed in the hardness of the materials. The elegance of the form enhances the precision of execution and reveals us subjects taken from mythology like Daphnis and Chloe, the goddess Diana or the famous pair Venus and Amor. Upon closer inspection, we will notice that the sculptor offered different interpretations to the aforementioned pair. In this work, we find protective Venus, holding little Amoras in her arms. In other works, Amor is depicted offering Venus the shell loaded with water; or Venus confiscating Cupid's arrow. Daughter of Jupiter and goddess of love and fertility, Venus will be a popular subject among artists. Born from waves and sea foam, she will sometimes be represented as a nymph, and other times we will notice the allegory of the shell from which the goddess appears. The etymology of her name branches out through a nature of seduction, a potion of love, or a feminine element with aquatic features. Over time, several statues depicting the goddess were discovered, fact that will lead to her recognition as a standard of beauty. The works of art will illustrate the goddess usually accompanied by her son with Mercury: Cupid (or Amor in Latin poetry), the god of desire, armed with a bow and several arrows. Portrayed as the little child with wings, carrying a bow and arrows, he will be illustrated mostly as a playful Cupid, who runs after butterflies or flirts with nymphs. His arrows become a symbol of love that begins unexpectedly and can overwhelm the bearer of deep feelings. We are therefore dealing with a dynamic duo, which has the mission to reiterate the importance of affection and the state of euphoria given off by it.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.
For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.
Dimensions
depth 13 cm, width 29 cm, height 30 cm
Description
bronze, signed on the right side, on the base, "Moreau"
Brought to you by
Simona Oprea
Head of Oriental Art, Traditional Art & Carpets Evaluation Office; Chinese Language Certificate HSK 4
