PATINATED BRONZE FIGURE "MUSE OF THE WOODS" MEDAL AFTER HENRI-LOUIS LEVASSEUR

A bronze sculpture with a medal patina, known as " Muse of the Woods, " after a model by Henri-Louis Levasseur . It depicts a young woman draped in a form-fitting garment that reveals her figure. She wears a crown of oak leaves, and her hair is tied back. In her left hand, she holds an antique lyre crafted from a tortoise shell and goat horns. Her right arm, outstretched in the air, suggests that she is singing. The work is signed "A. Levasseur" on the base, and a cartouche extending onto the foot reads "Muse of the Woods by LEVASSEUR, Out of Competition." The Muses are the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. They preside over the liberal arts. Since antiquity, they have inspired artists as mediators between the gods and creators. The muse presented here is likely Erato, goddess of lyric poetry, recognizable by her lyre. The lyre is also an instrument linked to the god Apollo, often accompanied by the muses.

Henri Louis Levasseur (1853-1934) was a French sculptor, a student of Augustin-Alexandre Dumont, Jules Thomas, and Eugène Delaplanche. Many of his works were awarded prizes at the Salon des Artistes Français and at the Universal Expositions of 1889 and 1900.

Circa: 1890

Condition report: In good overall condition. Signs of wear consistent with age.

Dimensions of the base: L: 26 cm; D: 26cm