BUST IN BRONZE "HYPOAIADE", SIGNED GEORGES COUDRAY

Bustin bronze with brown patina, titled in Greek"Hypoaiade" on the base of the pedestal and signed " George Coudray" on the left side. "Hypoaiade" represents a woman draped in the Antique style and wearing a beaded tiara holding her hair above her neck in a loose bun. The bronze bears the founder's mark"CH. GAUTIER BRONZIER" on the base.

Herodias, or Herodias granddaughter of Herod the Great, married his uncle Herod, with whom she had a child, Salome, according to the Judeo-Roman historian Flavius Josephus. Then she left her husband while he was still alive to marry Herod Antipas, another uncle who repudiated Phasaelis, the daughter of the Nabataean king Aretas IV. This marriage led to tensions with the Nabataean kingdom, which resulted in a battle that Herod Antipas lost. This defeat is considered by the population as a divine vengeance to punish him for having executed John the Baptist. According to the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, Salome dances in front of her father-in-law Herodius Antipas; he is charmed by her and is ready to grant her anything she wishes. Herodiades asks for and obtains from his daughter the head of John the Baptist. Cousin of Christ, this charismatic and popular man whom Herod Antipas seems to fear, did not hesitate to tell him: "You are not allowed to have your brother's wife as a wife. Later Herod Antipas irritated the Romans by his excessive power and was deposed by the emperor Caligula. He is then exiled to the south of Gaul. Herodiades chose to follow him.

Georges Charles Coudray (1862-1944) was a French sculptor and medalist. He was a student of Alexandre Falguière at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris where he entered in 1884, and made his debut at the Salon in 1883 where he exhibited regularly until 1890. He is known for his female figures (busts and statuettes) of oriental inspiration, more specifically Egyptian and Greek.

19th century

Circa: 1880 

Condition report: In good condition. Light wear to patina.

Dimension of the base: L: 18 cm; D: 15 cm