JEAN-BAPTISTE-JULES KLAGMANN | Nymphe Endormie (Sleeping Nymph)

Overall, the condition of the marble is good, with dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There is a minor reattachment to the tip of the proper right little finger. Part of the proper right big toe is carved separately. There are various inclusions to the marble, consistent with the material, including some filled inclusions, including to the proper left arm, to the proper left breast, to the proper left hipbone and to the proper left knee and proper right foot. There is some veining to the marble, consistent with the material, including a slightly open vein to the proper left buttock. There is an area of fill on the left of the signed K. There are a few minor scuff marks to the edges of the base. There are minor chips and abrasions to the edges and the corners of the 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 marble of a nymph in a sensuous and languid pose is a rare excursion in this genre for a sculptor who is known mostly for his large-scale architectural and historical sculpture. The nymph, with elaborate plaited hairdo, is barely covered by carefully arranged folds of drapery. The smooth, creamy texture of her skin forms a striking contrast with the busy folds that envelop her legs, her hips suggestively only partially covered.  The celebrated French sculptor Jean-Baptiste-Jules Klagmann was commissioned to execute important state monuments throughout his lifetime. Having entered the École des Beaux Arts in 1828, he exhibited extensively at the Paris Salon. Some of his most iconic works include a sculpture of Saint Clotilde, in the Jardin du Luxembourg, the figures on the monumental Fontaine Louvois on the Parisian Place Louvois, and the allegorical reliefs of Geometry and Astronomy on the Pavillon Mollien, one of the later wings of the Louvre. He was also responsible for the figures on the Ross Fountain, which stands beneath Edinburgh Castle, and for casting the gilt bronze theatre masks that adorn the Paris Opera. Klagmann was made a knight of the Legion d'Honneur in 1853, and exhibited several pieces of goldsmith work at the Exposition Universelle in 1855. He was buried at the famous Père Lachaise cemetery.  

The Nymphe Endormie was first exhibited by Klagmann in plaster at the Paris Salon in 1842. Although this petite freestanding marble is rare in his oeuvre, similarities can be seen with some of his most famous works. Compare, for example, the hair styles of the Geometry and Astronomy reliefs, and the elaborate drapery of his Saint Clotilde.