Laurent-Honoré Marqueste

Overall the condition of the marble is very good, with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are a few small naturally occurring inclusions in the marble, including to Psyche's proper right thigh, her abdomen on the proper right side, and Cupid's chest and proper right hip. There is a very minor chip to Psyche's proper left knee, and there are minor chips and abrasions around the bottom edge. There is particular dirt in the crevices of the signature, and there are a few light dirt marks, including to Psyche's abdomen. There is a joint with some white fill and minor dirt where the terrasse meets the white marble base.
"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."

This beautiful, sensual marble by Marqueste shows a flowing, seemingly weightless composition, with Cupid lifting Psyche, who holds a languid pose and seems to be sleeping. Laurent Marqueste, a student of Jouffroy and Falguière, won the first prize of Rome in 1871. He started exhibiting at the Salon in 1874, and continued for many years, winning various prizes, including a gold medal at the Exposition Universelle of 1889. In 1884, he was named Officer of the Legion d'Honneur. Marqueste worked on several distinguished commissions across Paris, including for a monument for Waldek Rousseu in the gardens of the Tuileries of the Louvre Museum, and on the façades of the Sorbonne and the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. His sculptures were often of an allegorical or a mythological nature, and mostly in plaster or marble. The present group epitomises his interest in mythology, and shows the famous myth in a fresh, newly imagined composition. 

RELATED LITERATURE
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. 9,  p. 249