Mathurin Moreau

MATHURIN MOREAU (Dijon, 1822 - Paris, 1912).
"Venus of the mirror".
Gilded bronze.
Signed.
Measurements: 46 x 20 x 23 cm / 60 cm (height with the base).

This delicate sculpture in gilded bronze, signed by Mathurin Moreau, represents Venus in the act of contemplating herself in a small hand mirror, which she elegantly holds in her left arm. The figure, of classical cut, stands on a pedestal. The composition stands out for its marked sensuality, as Venus appears in an introspective attitude, with the weight of the body shifted to the right leg while exonerating the left, which partially emerges through an opening in the dress. This gesture subtly reveals the skin and underlines the femininity of the goddess.

Son of the painter Jean-Baptiste Moreau, and brother of the sculptors Auguste and Hippolyte, Mathurin Moreau (1822-1912) worked mainly in small-format bronze sculpture, although he also produced works in ceramics. His favorite subjects were always those of romantic inspiration: allegories, literary and mythological figures, nymphs, young and beautiful girls, "putti" at play, etc. His was an academic and realistic style, characterized by the quality of his finishes, by his realism and, above all, by the grace, charm and elegance of his models. He exhibited his works at the Paris Salon from 1848, finally winning the medal of honor in the 1897 edition. He combined his artistic career with politics, becoming mayor of the 19th arrondissement of Paris and naming a street after him in 1912. He is currently represented in the Musée du Luxembourg, the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée des Arts et des Métales in Paris, among others, and has public monuments in the Père Lachaise cemetery in the French capital.