Art & Statues
Auguste Guénot “Nymphe” Reclining Female Bronze, Signed Artist’s Proof, France, 1924
Auguste Guénot “Nymphe” Reclining Female Bronze, Signed Artist’s Proof, France, 1924
This rare and exquisitely modeled bronze sculpture, titled Nymphe, is a signed artist's proof by noted French sculptor Auguste Guénot, created in 1924. It is marked in four locations: artist's name, date, edition (1ère épreuve), and the foundry stamp—underscoring its uniqueness and authenticity. The figure, a reclining female nude rendered with sensitivity and quiet confidence, captures the transitional moment from classical modeling to the stylized forms that would define the Art Deco era.
Cast in richly patinated bronze, the sculpture reveals Guénot’s exceptional attention to anatomical detail—each finger, toe, fold of the draped robe, and subtle shift of weight is executed with precision and grace. Her introspective pose and gentle expression embody a calm, natural elegance, while the surface handling reflects the sculptor’s transition toward the emerging Deco style. This piece stands as both a personal artistic statement and an important link between traditional academic training and the new decorative modernism of the 1920s.
Auguste Guénot (1882–1966), born in Toulouse to a cabinetmaker’s family, began his artistic journey in his father’s workshop before enrolling at the École des Beaux-Arts in 1895. He moved to Paris in 1899 and soon became an influential figure in early 20th-century French sculpture. His work was exhibited at the International Expositions of 1925, 1931, and 1937, and he was frequently commissioned for public monuments and decorative programs. With a lifelong commitment to craftsmanship and form, Guénot created a legacy that bridged the worlds of artisanry, classical training, and modernist evolution.
This first-edition artist’s proof is a museum-quality piece—refined, poetic, and historically significant.
