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« Taby1941 » (Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, U.K., 1/1/2008)
Vente ebay, 21 janvier 2008 (fin des enchères): « Solid bronze metal sculpure figure of a classical lady », unsigned, H. 17,5 in. [c. 45 cm.].
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« Research into this bronze for listing suggests that it is likely Swiss and by Jean-Jacques Pradier. For reference during this listing I have been directed to Millers 2005 Antiques, page 585. The top right hand illustration is of an almost identical subject but in a different pose by leaning with her hand on the pillar rather than her elbow and arm. The hair, face features, folds in her off-shoulder dress, bangle to her right wrist, leaf-shape drops neckless and earrings, the harp, the pillar scrolls and pillar details, together with the unusual shape & sharpness of the base, all look to be identical. Just as though the sculptor asked the lady for a different pose. The Miller description reads « a bronze sculpture of "The Standing Sapho" by Jean-Jacques, called James Pradier ».
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Douglas Siler (11/1/2008)
In my work on James Pradier, I have never run across this statuette and I doubt that it is one of his. When you state that the hair, face, dress folds, harp, pillar, base, etc. look to be identical to his Standing Sapho (Sapho debout), I fear that the photo you refer to must be very poor indeed. For comparison, you can find numerous other photos on my Forum Pradier website.
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« Taby1941 » (14/1/2008)
Thank you so much for your most interesting and helpful message. Having inherited this item some years ago and admired the subject and quality of the bronze without knowing who it represented or the sculptor, it has been a facinating weekend looking at your website and the many other websites on the subject of Sappho. Having downsized property and therefore continuing to downsize my collections, I thought I had hit the nail on the head, when I was referred to the Miller reference book, not realising as I do now that Sappho must have been the subject of perhaps many sculptors in the past. Having also read some of the many web pages on the subject of Sappho I can understand why she has been such a popular and interesting subject. What I have not discovered yet is, who was the sculptor for the Sappho that I have? I am still looking and wonder with your expertise if you have any knowledge of this? I would just like to thank you again for your time and trouble, and now that I have become aquainted with the piece half hope that it will not sell.
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Douglas Siler (25/1/2008)
I had a vague idea as to what mythological figure your statuette represents and now it suddenly comes back to me. I think she may be Polyhymnia or Polymnia, muse of sacred poetry, sacred hymn and eloquence. If you search on these names (or the French equivalent Polymnie) in Google you will find images such as the one below of the Roman marble statue which is in the Louvre.
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The bronze statuette below, derived from the Roman statue, was attributed to Pradier in a sale at the Hôtel Drouot in Paris on 15 Dec. 2000:
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With regard to the identity of the sculptor who made your bronze, I can't say for sure but he (or she) could possibly be one of Pradier's students, Eugène Lequesne for example, or the more obscure Anatole Calmels, whose Calypso in the Fine Arts Museum of Amiens is represented in the same. « pensive mood ».
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If I come up with any other ideas, I will let you know!
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