catalog text
EMMANUEL VILLANIS
French, fl. 1880-1920
"Bust of Thais"
Cast signature to shoulder "E. Villanis" | cold-stamped "3264" & "CB" with foundry cachet of "Societe des Bronzes de Paris" on the reverse
Item # 304MNI30P
An exquisite and expertly cast example of Emmanuel Villanis' Thais, it features a delightful ruby-red surface patination throughout the skin of the courtesan with a nuanced medium-and-dark brown patina to the integral socle, garment and hair. The sculpture depicts the courtesan of Alexander the Great, eventual wife of Ptolemy I, the famed instigator of the Burning of Persepolis by Alexander the Great. It is thought that she led the burning of the great palace in sport, jest and underlying revenge for the burning in her homeland of the Temple of Athena on the Acropolis by Xerxes during the Persian war. The cast is sealed to the reverse with the editeur's cachet and numbered 3264 by cold-stamping.
Measurements: 21 3/4" H x 5 1/4" D x 12 1/2" W
Condition Report: A well-preserved patina throughout with trace wear and rubbing loss commensurate with age; minor rubbing to the patina of the tip of her nose, the corners and edges of the base, some high points on her hair; original patina throughout preserved under wax; a very fine presentation.