ALABASTER STATUETTE "PANDORA" AFTER JAMES PRADIER, LATE 19TH CENTURY

A delicate alabaster statuette of Pandora, after James Pradier. She is draped in a long veil extending from her diadem, which conceals half her body, revealing one of her breasts. She is adorned with rich jewelry: a necklace of large pearls, earrings, and a pearl chain falling to her hip. In a contrapposto pose reminiscent of Greco-Roman sculpture, she holds a covered urn with two handles, engraved with vegetal motifs. The fine sculpting gives the body great plasticity and the drapery a detailed treatment. The color of the alabaster enhances the form by imitating the color of flesh, making this statuette all the more sensual. Circa 1880

Pandora by James Pradier

In 1845, James Pradier completed a clay model of Pandora with the intention of creating a monumental version. Unfortunately, the block of marble commissioned for this project was not considered beautiful enough by the artist, who abandoned the project. A few years later, James Pradier submitted a bronze edition of his Pandora to the 1850 Salon. Our alabaster sculpture belongs to a different category of statuettes designed for a wider audience, following the sculptor's success in the mid-19th century. The mythological figure of Pandora, the very embodiment of the 19th-century femme fatale, is among Pradier's most widely circulated subjects. The Museum of Art and History in Geneva owns and displays the 1845 clay model in its collection.

Base diameter: 11.5 cm

Condition report: In good overall condition. Minor wear on the foot.