Child with Bird and Apple

MakerPossibly cast by Pierre-Phillipe Thomire, after Jean-Baptiste Pigalle (French, 1714 - 1785)

Makerformerly attributed to Jean-Baptiste Pigalle (French, 1714 - 1785)

Additional Title(s)

La fillette à l'oiseau et a la pomme

ClassificationsSCULPTURE

Dateca. 1823

Mediumbronze

Dimensions17 1/2 in. (44.5 cm.)

DescriptionThis sculpture of a young girl was produced by French sculptor Pierre-Philippe Thomire as a pendant of the bronze statue portraying the Child with Bird Cage (11.39). They reproduce a famous pair of marble statues that the French artist Jean-Baptiste Pigalle sculpted in 1749 and 1784.

SignedPiGALLE. F. / 1784 is cast into the metal on top of the base; Signed: Pigalle F. 1784 Signed: Pigalle F. 1784

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

Status

On view

Label TextThis bronze is based on one half of a famous pair of marble sculptures of children carved by the French sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle. The boy with the birdcage was carved around 1750. Years later, in 1784, he carved as its pendant the girl with a bird and apple. The models were so popular that many versions were made in both marble and bronze from 18th century through the early 20th century.

Object number11.40