Une Heure de la Nuit
after Joseph Michel Ange Pollet (French, 1814–1870)
Bronze, 20 × 9 in.
Cast by E. De Labroue
This bronze sculpture is a reproduction of Pollet’s celebrated marble Une Heure de la Nuit, of which several original examples exist, including one at Anthony’s Fine Art and another in the collection of the Château de Compiègne. An exemplar of 19th-century Neoclassical sculpture, the work personifies one of the allegorical “hours” of the night.
The female figure, nude and unencumbered, symbolizes purity and liberation from earthly cares. Ascending heavenward in serene awe, she embodies the ethereal beauty of the nocturnal world. The addition of putti infuses the scene with warmth and playfulness.
E. De Labroue, a trusted bronzier of the 19th century, reproduced important marble works by leading sculptors, including Pradier and Carrier-Belleuse. His cast of Une Heure de la Nuit was exhibited at the Exposition Universelle in 1855; The present work is a reduced-scale casting of Pollet’s later variant, distinguished by the addition of cherubs at the figure’s feet.
