E. CORRELET ? GENTIL BERNARD Terracotta sculpture... Lot 28

E. CORRELET ? GENTIL BERNARD Terracotta sculpture representing two dragons trying to kiss a young woman.  Signed and dated 1854 on the terrace. 26 x 16.5 x 12.5 cm Pierre-Joseph BERNARD (1708-1775), poet and playwright, was famous for his licentious poem "L'art d'aimer". A poem on which he worked for many years and which was published shortly before his death. He was appointed by the Duke of Coigny in 1740 as General Secretary of the Dragons, a position he had long coveted. A member of the Société du Caveau, protected by Voltaire, it was the latter who gave him the nickname "Gentil Bernard". Our statue depicts two dragons to represent his role as the general secretary of the dragons, the dragons try to kiss a young woman to recall his poem "The Art of Loving".