Antique French Gilt Bronze Cupid

This fine Louis XVI Gilt bronze figure of Cupid is of the absolute best quality, with a wonderful rich, warm patiniation to the stunning gilding. The statue is cast from an original design by Étienne Maurice Falconet (1716-1791) showing Cupid posed turning on one foot, leaning against a tree stump and retrieving an arrow from his quiver. This is handsomely mounted on a circular rosso antico marble base and is signed Sèvres to the reverse. Étienne Maurice Falconet was a French Baroque, rococo and neoclassical sculptor best known for his equestrian statue of Peter the Great, the Bronze Horseman (1782) in St Petersburg, Russian Empire, and for the statues he produced for the Royal Sevres factory. He worked at the Sèvres post until he was invited to Russia by Catherine the Great in September 1766. This statue of Cupid is a most imposing piece of the finest quality measuring 33.5cm high with the base being.. in diameter. UK insured delivery is £20