Maternité (Motherhood)
Maker and role
Artist: Alexandre Charpentier, French, 1856-1909
Artist: Georges Despret, French, born Belgium, 1862-1952
Year
1892
See full details
Object detail
Media/Materials
Pâte-de-verre
Measurements
18 1/4 x 12 1/4in (46.4 x 31.1cm)
Credit line
Museum purchase with the Victor and Peggy Barton Creighton Charitable Trust
Accession number
2011.310
Object type
Department
Location
Further information
Alexandre Charpentier's relief sculpture Maternité (Motherhood), one of his best known compositions, continues the naturalism of Aimé-Jules Dalou (1838-1902) who popularized, intimate, informal depictions of contemporary women and children, much as the Impressionist painters did. The low relief also suggests the inspiration of Italian sculptors of the 15th century who perfected such subtle forms in marble. Originally cast in bronze, this pâte-de-verre version shows a taste for experimentation with new media at the turn of the 19th century thanks in part to the remarkable talents of glass artists of the period. The Belgian glass artist Georges Despret was Charpentier's collaborator here.
Signature & date
Signed, l.r. Alexandre Charpentier
Dated, l.r. 1892
Dated, l.r. 1892
Subject period
Public comments
Be the first to comment on this object record.