After Philippe-Laurent Roland

After Philippe-Laurent Roland
"Bust of Selene", c. 1880
Carrara marble; granite base.
Signed
Measurements: 53 x 29 x 19 cm.

Elegant sculptural bust made in Carrara marble representing Selene, Greek goddess of the moon, identifiable by the crescent moon crowning her head. The figure is represented with a serene expression and idealized features, within a neoclassical language inspired by the models of ancient sculpture.

The work, signed, follows models of the French sculptor Philippe-Laurent Roland, a French sculptor born in 1746 and trained in Paris. He worked initially under the influence of the neoclassical style, collaborating for a time with the sculptor Augustin Pajou. He participated in important decorative projects for French public buildings, especially during the period of the Consulate and the Napoleonic Empire.

His work is characterized by classical sobriety and interest in architectural sculpture, with numerous reliefs and decorations for palaces and monuments. He died in Paris in 1816, leaving a solid production within French neoclassicism, although today he is less known than some of his contemporaries.