A French Bronze Figural Group: The Three Graces
After the model by Germain Pilon (circa 1525–1590)
James Pradier (French, 1790–1852)
19th century
Patinated bronze on marble and slate base, inscribed Pradier
Overall: 21 × 9½ × 9 in. (53 × 24 × 23 cm)
This refined bronze group depicts the Trois Grâces—daughters of Zeus and symbols of beauty, grace, and festive delight—who frequently accompanied Venus in classical mythology. The composition is derived from Germain Pilon’s late 16th-century sculpture, originally created as part of a funerary monument for Valois royalty and now housed in the Louvre.
Though modeled after Pilon, this version bears the signature of James Pradier, one of the foremost Neoclassical sculptors of 19th-century France. Pradier was known for harmonizing antique subjects with Romantic sensibilities, and his name here likely associates the casting with his revival of classical forms.
The polished red marble and black slate base accentuates the rich patina of the bronze and reflects the 19th-century French fascination with Renaissance models reimagined for modern tastes.
