Henri Frédéric Varenne

Overall, the condition of the marble is good, with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are several small naturally occurring inclusions to the marble, notably to the top of the head, to the proper right foot, to the woman's back and a few to the terrasse. There is some very light veining to the marble consistent with the material, in particular to the abdomen. There is particular dirt to the edges of the terrasse. There are a few minor chips and abrasions around the bottom edge, as well as a small chip to the proper right little toe.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Henri Varenne was a diverse and technically skilled sculptor who worked across a variety of media, including plaster, marble, wood and medal engraving. He debuted at the salon of 1886 with a plaster of the Head of Saint John the Baptist, and continued exhibiting varied works, be they Biblical, allegorical, mythological or portraits. The present group, Fin d'un Rêve, was first executed in plaster in 1893 and a marble life-size version of the model is in the Thermes Nationaux in Aix-les-Bains, France. The sculpture shows particularly fine carving in the winding tree roots, and the manner in which Varenne has depicted internalised emotion is reminiscent of Rodin.

RELATED LITERATURE
P. Kjellberg, Bronzes of the 19th Century: Dictionary of Sculptors, London, 1994, p. 636; E. Bénézit, Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des peintures sculptures dessinateurs et graveurs de tous les temps et de tous les pays par un group d'écrivains spécialistes français et étrangers, Paris, 1999, vol. 14,  p. 51