After Etienne Maurice Falconet. Two Cupids contesting a heart.

After ETIENNE MAURICE FALCONET (France, 1716-1791).
Two Cupids contesting a heart. Patinated bronze, on oval marble base with gilded pearl border. 19th Century.
Inscribed Carrliere at the terrace.
Measurements: 50 x 30 x 25 cm.
The sculpture depicts the erotes brothers Eros and Anteros contesting a flaming heart. According to Greek mythology Eros was a perpetual child, so his mother Aprodite gave birth to Anteros. When Anteros was near Eros, Eros grew, but if Anteros was away Eros shrank bak to previous size. In Greek mythology, their relationship represented the contrast between friendship and rivalry, affection and conflict, and they were often depicted fighting each other in competition.

The French sculptor Etienne Falconet was one of the masters of the Baroque school, but Falconet was also in certain aspects a neoclassical sculptor. Falconet was born into a poor family in Paris in 1716 and was initially in training to become a carpenter. In his leisure time, he made clay figures, which led to his discovery by the French sculptor, Lemoyne. Falconet garnered attention from the public after exhibiting at the Salons in the mid-1750’s, and by 1757, he was appointed as director of sculpture at the new Sèvres manufactory. Falconet left his post in Sèvres in 1766 to begin commissioned work for Catherine the Great of Russia, completing his most famous work, The Bronze Horseman, in 1782. During his life, Falconet also studied Greek and Latin and wrote several volumes of literary works. His writings and his sculptures can be seen in museums across the world.