Demeter Shaping the World, (1885) by Isidore Jules Bonheur

Isidore Jules Bonheur (French, 1827–1901)
Demeter Shaping the World, 1885
Silvered bronze on red marble base, 20 × 11 × 8 in.

This monumental silvered bronze trophy was created by acclaimed French sculptor Isidore Jules Bonheur and awarded to Baron Léo Barré at the 1885 Montauban Regional Agricultural Competition (Concours Régional Agricole de Montauban). The allegorical composition features the goddess Demeter in a moment of quiet authority, shaping the world itself, while a harvester stands respectfully by—symbolizing the harmony between divine providence and human labor in agricultural advancement. Commissioned by Christofle, Paris, the sculpture exemplifies Bonheur’s renowned naturalism and his ability to evoke narrative power through sculptural form.