🌿 “La Source”, After Auguste Moreau, c. 1900 — A French Art Nouveau Bronze Celebrating Feminine Harmony

Description

Cast circa 1900 after Auguste Moreau (1834–1917), this exquisite French School Art Nouveau bronze embodies the poetic elegance and sensual naturalism of the Belle Époque.

La Source portrays a young woman modestly turning her head as she gathers a flowing drapery that spirals around her like water — a graceful allegory of purity, serenity, and renewal. The sculpture’s fluid modeling and rhythmic composition convey both movement and calm, capturing the essence of harmony between nature and form.

Finished in a warm brown-green patina with golden undertones and mounted on its original black marble base, this bronze stands 43 cm (17 in) tall and weighs 4.7 kg (10.4 lb) — a perfect union of balance, delicacy, and presence.

🎨 Artistic Context

Created at the height of French Art Nouveau, this work reflects the era’s devotion to organic beauty and flowing design. Sculptors such as Auguste Moreau, Désiré Debut, and Louis-Ernest Barrias transformed classical allegory into living form — sensual, lyrical, and imbued with emotion.

The theme of La Source (“The Spring”), inspired by Ingres’s 1856 painting, became a symbol of purity and the eternal feminine. Moreau’s interpretation is marked by its gentle anatomy, romantic restraint, and serene expressiveness.

Comparable examples were cast by renowned foundries such as Société des Bronzes de Paris and Siot-Decauville, celebrated for their refined lost-wax casting and delicate patinas.

📏 Details

Artist: After Auguste Moreau (French School, 1834–1917)
Title: La Source (The Spring)
Date: Circa 1900
Medium: Bronze with brown-green patina on original black marble base
Dimensions: 43 cm H × 12.5 cm W × 11 cm D (widest point 14.5 cm)
Weight: 4.7 kg (10.4 lb)
Signature: Unsigned (typical of foundry casts of this model)
Origin: French School, Belle Époque period

❤️ Highlights

✅ Timeless Elegance: A poetic portrayal of purity and feminine grace — the spirit of the Belle Époque.
✅ French Casting: Early 20th-century bronze with fine detail and harmonious proportions.
✅ Fluid Movement: Drapery and form intertwine in a graceful, water-like rhythm.
✅ Collector Appeal: A highly desirable subject after Moreau, both decorative and symbolic.
✅ Quality: A classic French Art Nouveau bronze of enduring artistic and historical significance.

🧾 Condition Report

Excellent period condition with gentle wear consistent with age and careful preservation. The patina is deep and even, with golden highlights enhancing the sculptural depth.
Light rubbing on raised areas reveals natural bronze highlights — a desirable hallmark of authenticity. Minor casting pores and small surface flecks typical of early 20th-century workmanship are visible under close inspection. The black marble base shows light wear and minor edge chips appropriate to age. No cracks or repairs. The sculpture retains its rich luster and presents beautifully from every angle.