Possibly French school; late 19th century.

Possibly French school; late 19th century.
“The Three Graces.”
Carrara marble.
Provenance: Private Belgian collection.
Measurements: 83 x 51 x 30 cm.
This exceptional white marble sculpture depicts the timeless motif of The Three Graces, a theme rooted in Greco-Roman mythology and immortalized in Western art through Antonio Canova’s celebrated neoclassical model (1814–1817). As an emblem of beauty, joy, and abundance, this composition inspired numerous interpretations and versions throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, in both bronze and marble. Although other versions exist in various sizes and with different levels of finish, this sculpture stands out as one of the finest known executions of Canova’s original composition, executed with exceptional technical precision and great fidelity to the original design. The marble has been carved with extraordinary skill, featuring elegantly modeled figures, meticulous rendering of the hands, drapery, and hair, as well as a surface of extraordinary purity and smoothness.
The composition faithfully follows the structure conceived by Canova: three nude female figures arranged in a circular embrace, whose postures achieve perfect balance through a subtle interplay of contrapposto and intertwined gestures. The anatomy is rendered with graceful naturalism; the transitions between limbs and torsos flow harmoniously, and the overall rhythm of the composition conveys serenity and balance. Even the rear view has been executed with the same care, depicting the backs, arms, and flowing hair with an identical level of refinement. A central column decorated with garlands of flowers structures the composition both formally and symbolically.
This sculpture is remarkable not only for its subject matter and inspiration but also for its extraordinary intrinsic sculptural quality. The choice of fine-grained white Carrara marble, the high standard of craftsmanship, and the overall purity of the forms place this work among the most refined neoclassically inspired decorative sculptures produced during its era. It stands as an outstanding example of 19th-century craftsmanship, paying homage to one of the most iconic models in the history of European art, with a level of finish and expressive harmony rarely found in comparable works.