ALBERT ERNEST CARRIER-BELLEUSE (FRENCH, 1824-1887)

Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse was one of the most important and innovative sculptors of 19th century France. His portrait busts of beautiful maidens with flower festooned hair were a mainstay of his oeuvre and their influence is evident here. He takes for inspiration Houdon’s comparatively plain portrait of Anne Audéoud of circa 1780, and embellishes it with a crown of roses, romanticising the innocence and beauty of childhood. It is possible that the present composition is one of two busts entitled Jeune Fille he sold at auction in 1883 and 1887. Compare another terracatta bust of a young girl with flowers in her hair, of the same scale, sold Sotheby’s, London, 13 November 2007, lot 2 (£12,500).