JEAN-BAPTISTE (DIT AUGUSTE) CLÉSINGER (FRENCH, 1814-1883)

Clésinger was born the son of a sculptor, Georges-Philippe, in whose atelier he received his initial training. In 1832, he accompanied his father to Rome where he became the student of Bertel Thorvaldsen. Upon his return to France, he worked in the ateliers of a number of other sculptors, all the while navigating the political upheavals of 19th century France – the July Monarchy, the Second Republic, the Second Empire and the Third Republic – declaring allegiance to the successive regimes as he saw fit and continuously presenting at the Salons. The present model was first conceived by the artist in marble and exhibited at the 1859 Salon (inv. 3142). It has since often been referred to by an alternative title-- The Neapolitan Dancer.