Gracefully ascending from the support of a single winged putto, a young celestial woman tilts toward the heavens—her arms raised, her crown of stars gleaming, and her delicate drapery slipping as though surrendering the last ties to the earthly realm. Une Heure de la Nuit ("An Hour of the Night") by Joseph Michel Ange Pollet captures the fleeting, weightless passage of time through a singular poetic form. The sculpture’s daring structure—supported only by one figure at the base—is a masterclass in marble carving, defying gravity and achieving a mystical balance that evokes the illusionary skill of Indian jugglers, as noted by contemporary critic Théophile Gautier.
Pollet, born in Sicily to French parents in 1814, was a sculptor of rare ability whose artistic journey took him across Italy, Paris, and Brussels before ultimately settling in France. His multicultural upbringing and artistic travels enriched his sculptural language with a unique blend of classical technique and romantic expression. Known for his refined work in both plaster and marble, Pollet produced acclaimed busts and statues, including portraits of Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie. His commissions ranged from royal palaces to sacred churches such as Sainte-Clotilde and Saint-Eustache, and his pieces were regularly exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1846 to 1869.
The plaster model of Une Heure de la Nuit debuted at the 1848 Salon, immediately capturing public admiration. Empress Eugénie and the Ministry of the Interior swiftly commissioned editions. A bronze version received acclaim at the Universal Exhibition of 1855, and a marble edition was later exhibited at the Louvre before joining the collection of the Château de Compiègne. This particular version, originally held at the Villa Eugénie—the imperial residence of Empress Eugénie and Napoleon III—is closest to Pollet’s original design and a technical triumph, being the first to rely on only one supporting putto to bear the marble’s full weight.
The cultural resonance of Une Heure de la Nuit extends far beyond the visual arts. During a visit to the Villa Eugénie, the poet Paul Verlaine was moved by the statue’s otherworldly beauty and wrote a poem in its honor. He later brought his friend Claude Debussy to see the sculpture. Struck by its dreamlike atmosphere and lyrical form, Debussy composed his now-iconic piano piece Clair de Lune (“Moonlight”), inspired directly by the statue and Verlaine’s verse. Through this poetic and musical lineage, Pollet’s sculpture continues to float—timeless, luminous, and infinitely evocative.
“The concept of 'L’heure,' embodied in an improbable sculpture, transcends as a celestial allegory, defying gravity with its suspended stance...”
— Théophile Gautier, Le feuilleton du Salon, La Presse, April 25, 1848
From the Villa Eugénie (now Hôtel du Palais), Biarritz
Marble
69 x 36 × 22 in.
Base: 44.5 x 42 x 30 in.
