James PRADIER (1790-1852)
Woman putting on a stocking
Bronze with a light brown patina.
Model created in 1840.
Signed J Pradier on the terrace.
H. 23,5 cm
LITERATURE IN RAPPORT :
- Statues de chair ; Sculptures de James Pradier, cat. exp., Genève, musée d'art et d'histoire, 1986, p. 267, model listed under n°76 ;
- Claude Lapaire, James Pradier and French sculpture of the Romantic generation. Catalogue raisonné, Milan-Lausanne, 2010, p. 296/297, model listed under n°145.
These two works perfectly illustrate the talent of James Pradier, the famous sculptor of the July Monarchy, who, throughout his career, successfully met the expectations of the Salon, the commissions he received and the tastes of Parisian society at the time.
The Woman Putting on her Stockings and the Atalante Toilet are thus cast in bronze, following their presentation at the Salon in a marble version. The success of these works is ensured by the choice of subjects. The female figure is predominant in Pradier's repertoire and often finds an echo in Antiquity. La Femme mettant son bas thus skillfully takes up the pose of the Shooter of Thorns, adapting it to the female body and making the scene voluptuous and sensual. For the Atalante Toilet, exhibited in marble at the 1850 Salon, Pradier exploits the graceful position and voluptuous curves of the crouching Venus. It departs from the tradition, which usually represents Atalante in a race. Indeed, the young woman surpassed the most agile men and was only to give herself to the one who would defeat her. Venus devised a stratagem for Hippomenes to win this race: he threw three golden apples that the Arcadian princess picked up during her race, causing her to lose. Thus Atalanta is no longer in this dynamic attitude, but presents herself to the spectators in a sensual and erotic pose that questions Parisians: is this Atalanta or a Parisian woman getting out of the bath? (L. de Geof
We use cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience, perform site traffic analysis, and deliver content and advertisements most relevant to your interests.
Cookie management:
By allowing these cookies, you agree to the deposit, reading and use of tracking technologies necessary for their proper functioning. Read more about our privacy policy.