Albert Ernest Carrier Belleuse

ALBERT ERNEST CARRIER BELLEUSE (France, 1824 - 1887).
"La source".
Patinated bronze and "verde antico" marble pedestal.
Signed.
Measurements: 94 x 36 x 30 cm.
Allegorical sculpture representing a woman holding a vessel in an elegant attitude, identified as a personification of Venus, goddess of love. The title L'étoile du Berger alludes to the ancient popular denomination of the planet Venus as the evening star, guide of the return of the shepherds at dusk. The work stands out for the harmony of the composition, the delicate modeling of the face and the naturalistic and fluid treatment of the folds of the costumes, characteristic features of Moreau's production.
Albert Ernest Carrier-Belleuse was one of the most prolific and influential sculptors of his time and achieved notable success during the Second Empire, with the personal support of Napoleon III. His work was a true renewal of French classical sculpture, thanks to an extraordinary capacity for stylistic synthesis that combines the neoclassical tradition with romanticism and subtle orientalist evocations. In 1864 he was Auguste Rodin's teacher, a relationship that shows the high technical and artistic level of Carrier-Belleuse, famous for his virtuosity in the handling of the chisel. His influence on Rodin, especially his admiration for 18th century art, is clearly perceptible in the young sculptor's early works, such as The Girl with the Flowered Hat.
The most emblematic collaboration between Carrier-Belleuse and Rodin is undoubtedly the Pedestal of the Titans, a copy of which can be seen today in the Rodin Museum in Paris. Conceived by Carrier-Belleuse and executed by Rodin, it was signed only with the name of the master, in accordance with the usual practices of the time. In 1882, Rodin made a terracotta bust of Carrier-Belleuse, presented that same year at the Salon; the original is now preserved at the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University. Rodin worked with Carrier-Belleuse between 1864 and 1870, a decisive period for his artistic training.