Phryné, Jean Alexandre Joseph Falguière | Mia

standing nude female with her arms drawn up and hands clasped, with her head resting on her PR upper arm; slightly contrapposto pose; woman wears an necklace with petal-like pendants, bracelet on her PL wrist and a headband; hair pulled back on the back of her head; woman wears sandals; turned knob element on back at vertical edge; dark coppery patina; black Neoclassical base (stone or plastic?) with round platform and square lower portion with rounded and indented corners — Phryné, 19th-20th century
Jean Alexandre Joseph Falguière
Bronze
Bequest of Bruce B. Dayton 2016.33.28
Not on View
The inspiration for this sensual nude, a favorite subject of Falguière, was the painting Phryné Before the Areopagus by the sculptor's brother-in-law Jean-Leon Gérôme. Phryné was a courtesan of Ancient Greece--her sandals and necklace represent her place in ancient history. In the painting, Phryné stands at her trial--reportedly for impropriety--while the orator Hyperedes, her defender, removes her robe to get pity on her from the jury. Falguière used both live models and photographs of them in creating his sculpture. Because of the similarity, both Gérôme and Falguière may have used the same photograph by Nadar for their models.

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Details

Title: Phryné
Dated: 19th-20th century
Artist: Jean Alexandre Joseph Falguière
Nationality: French
Artist Life: 1831-1900
Role: Artist
Gallery: Not on View
Department: European Art
Dimension: 32 3/4 × 11 1/4 × 11 1/4 in. (83.19 × 28.58 × 28.58 cm) (including base)
Credit: Bequest of Bruce B. Dayton
Accession Number: 2016.33.28
Medium: Bronze
Country: France
Century: 19th-20th century
Rights: Public Domain
Classification: Sculpture
Object Name: Sculpture
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Curator Approved: This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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