A FRENCH BRONZE FIGURE OF VENUS

The prototype of the The Bather or Baigneuse, was executed by Étienne-Maurice Falconet in circa 1750 and was first exhibited in the Salon of 1757 described as 'no. 131 - Nymphe qui descend du bain'. It shortly after entered the collection of Mme Du Barry at Louveciennes, Versailles but was seized from her on 10th January 1794 during the French revolution. It was subsequently documented in 1824 in the Grand Trianon at Versailles but was then moved to the Louvre sometime shortly after 1855 where it remains until today.