Antique patinated bronze sculpture depicting the Nymphe de Bois

Antique patinated bronze sculpture signed "Louis Moreau" resting on a red Levanto marble base. The sculpture depicts the Nymphe de Bois and is a captivating representation of the mythical wood nymph from ancient legend, created by Louis Moreau, one of the extraordinary members of the Moreau family who dominated the world of sculpture in Paris during the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. The young woman is depicted in a joyful pose, surrounded by plants and birds, and rests on a base also made of plants. Draped around her hips, the figure is in a sensual and contemplative pose; her body is supple, slender, and beautifully modeled with anatomical care and naturalistic detail.