French school of the second half of the 19th century.

French school of the second half of the 19th century.
"Allegory of Sculpture".
Patinated bronze.
Measurements: 98 x 30 x 30 cm.

Patinated bronze sculpture made in the 19th century, conceived as an allegory of Sculpture, following the idealized canons of Greek classicism. The female figure, of harmonious proportions and serene bearing, is presented standing, wrapped in a tunic of complex fall, whose folds are resolved in a naturalistic draping around her anatomy. Bare feet peek out from under the fabric, reinforcing the connection with the earth and with the sculptural tradition of the ancient world. In her hands she wields the attributes of sculptural art: a hammer in the right and a chisel in the left, symbols of the transformation of matter through human ingenuity and labor.

The figure slightly inclines his head in a gesture of introspection, capturing that moment prior to creation in which thought precedes form. Her face, with serene and classical features, is framed by an updo crowned with a diadem decorated with vine leaves and bunches of grapes, Dionysian elements that allude to creative inspiration and the fertility of art.

This piece is part of the deep reverence for the aesthetic and symbolic heritage of classical antiquity that blossomed in the neoclassical schools of the nineteenth century.