Bust of Madame de la Popelinière After Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne the Younger -19th Century 29½"

This exquisite patinated plaster bust represents Madame de la Popelinière, crafted as an homage to the original 1776 plaster model by the renowned Parisian sculptor Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne the Younger (1704-1778). The original, now housed in the Musée des Augustins de Toulouse, was created as a reception piece for the Toulouse Academy. Lemoyne patinated the plaster to mimic terracotta, a material highly prized by the people of Toulouse, and sent it to the academy in hopes of impressing its members and possibly attracting new patrons.

Madame de la Popelinière, born Marie-Thérèse Mondran, was the daughter of the influential urban planner and art collector Mondran, founder of the Toulouse Academy of Arts. A refined and cultured young woman, she was known for her talents in music, singing, and theater. She married the affluent and flamboyant fermier général (tax collector) La Popelinière, an accomplished libertine and prominent art collector himself. Lemoyne chose to portray her in a characteristic three-quarter pose, giving an impression of spontaneity and capturing her "spiritual beauty" in the French Rococo, or Louis XV, style.

Adorned with intricate details, such as her gently styled hair and a beautifully draped garment fastened with a delicate clasp, this bust exudes the grace and elegance associated with French aristocracy. The terracotta’s warm, earthy tones lend a timeless quality, enhancing the naturalism of her features. This piece not only reflects Lemoyne’s mastery but also serves as a tribute to an influential family within the Toulouse art scene. Seized during the revolutionary period and transferred to the museum in 1793, the original bust is a historical artifact steeped in French art and culture. This terracotta version, set on a rounded pedestal, is an ideal focal point for a refined interior, offering both historical depth and artistic elegance as a connection to 18th-century French sculpture and the legacy of Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne the Younger.