Jean-Babtiste Carpeaux
(Valenciennes 1827-1875 Courbevois)

Bacchante aux Lauriers

1869, from the group 'La Danse' for the Opera in Paris
Plaster model for reproduction in marble and bronze and possibly the original plaster
Plaster, patinated to resemble bronze
Signed 'J.Bte. Carpeaux, and inscribed 'exp' and 'Bd M' for Boulevard de la Madeleine (address of Maison Susse)
Cast probably 1869 but before 1894
H. 64,5cm

In 1869 Carpeaux completed the group 'La Danse' for the Opera in Paris. Several figures of the group were reproduced seperately. This bust of 'Bacchante aux Lauriers' being one of them. The archives mention an original plaster sold in the Carpeaux auction in 1913 and a plaster model in the the Carpaux auction of 1894. The present bust can be identified with the latter but it is very likely that they are one and the same and therefore this is possibly not only the plaster model but also the original plaster.

Click image for zoomfunction and multiple views