ALBERT-ERNEST CARRIER-BELLEUSE | La Nuit (Allegory of the Night)

Overall the condition of the marble is very good, with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There proper left little finger and the adjoining strut are reattached. There is some natural veining to the marble, notably at the proper left breast. There are a few small chips, in particular to the edges of the drapery and the bottom edge. There are a few minor dirt marks to the drapery on the proper left side.
"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."

La Nuit was sold in marble in Carrier-Belleuse's first 1868 Drouot sale as no. 2, in the same size as the present lot. A marble of the same model was sold in these rooms on 14 December 2001, lot 147; whereas a variation on the model, which has modest drapery slung from a belt around the woman's waist, was sold earlier in that same year, 27 April, lot 190.  The personification of the night as a draped woman holding a sleeping baby was prominent in Neoclassical iconography. Perhaps most famously, Thorvaldsen's relief of Night shows a winged figure of the Night holding two sleeping putti. The present marble is a tender and detailed group of the same theme, by one of France's most prolific 19th-century sculptors, showcasing Carrier-Belleuse's eye for detail and technical prowess.  

RELATED LITERATURE
J. Hargrove, The Life and Work of Albert Carrier-Belleuse, New York, 1977, p. 232