Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse

Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse was one of the most important and innovative sculptors of nineteenth-century France. During his long career at the Paris Salon and beyond, Carrier-Belleuse was responsible for important public monuments, as well as creating decorative sculpture for a diverse clientele. His terracotta models, many of which depict playful mythological subjects, were reproduced widely. Carrier-Belleuse’s prolific workshop became an important training ground for younger sculptors, notably Auguste Rodin, who acted as the master’s assistant between 1864 and 1870.

This graceful group epitomises the artist's Belle Epoque aesthetic. Accompanied by a charming putto swathed in wreaths and garlands of grapes and leaves, the female figure is modelled with sensual grace as her form works to symbolise the cleansing purity of water.

RELATED LITERATURE

J. Hargrove and G. Grandjean, Carrier-Belleuse. Le maître de Rodin, exh. cat. Palais de Compiègne, Paris, 2014