PAIR OF BISQUES "LES ENFANTS BRONGNIART" AFTER HOUDON, THARAUD LIMOGES

Pair of busts in Porcelain Bisque after Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1828) representing the Brongniart children. Louise and Alexandre are the two children of the architect Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart, famous for the construction of the Paris Bourse (Palais Brongniart). The portraits are very finely crafted, and designed in contrast. They turn their heads in opposite directions. Alexandre is dressed, while Louise is naked. The boy's liveliness is illustrated by the messy hair, the jacket open over the chest, the mischievous look and the nervous modelling of the face. Louise is more composed: she still has the curves of early childhood and her hair is carefully pulled up into a bun.

Houdon, who showed an early interest in children's portraits, transcribed the freshness and innocence of childhood without sentimentality. His two terracotta portraits were presented at the Salon of 1777. They had a great popularity and were reproduced in numerous versions in Marble, bronze and in Sèvres bisqueand in terracotta. The two portraits by Houdon were acquired by the Louvre at the end of the 19th century. Our busts of children in Bisque of Limoges rest on a base in blue Porcelain, underlined by golden fillets. Alexandre's Bust is marked inside the base: "Porcelain Limoges France" and Louise's: "Tharaud Limoges Made in France".

20th century

Circa: 1930

Dim: W:10,9cm, D:7,5cm, H:21cm

Condition report: both busts are in very good condition. The male Bust is slightly smaller.