JEAN-BAPTISTE CLESINGER (FRENCH, 1814-1883): A MARBLE BUST OF CLEOPATRA

JEAN-BAPTISTE CLESINGER (FRENCH, 1814-1883): A MARBLE BUST OF CLEOPATRAwearing an ornate headdress centred by a relief of a scarab, and a Egyptian style necklace decorated with various animal motifs, her head turned to sinistre, raised on a cylindrical socle, signed 'J.CLESINGER',40cm wide x 29cm deep x 69cm highProvenance:The Walid Juffali CollectionFootnote:Auguste Clésinger was obviously fond of the subject of Cleopatra and some of his most famous works are of the same subject. His full scale marble figure of Cleopatra Mourante (Cleopatra Dying) was sent from his Roman workshop to the Paris Salon of 1861, and was subsequently purchased by the bronze founder Barbedienne; who produced an edition of bronze reductions of the sculpture. It is likely this exhibition marble is the same example sold at Sotheby's, London, 12 July 2017, lot 19 for £100,000. Clesinger also produced a recumbant Cléopâtre devant César in 1869, and a standing figure of Cleopatra in 1868.