French Bronze La Source Nude Figure After Auguste Moreau After Auguste Moreau (French, 1834–1917) c.1900

French Bronze La Source Nude Figure After Auguste Moreau circa 1900 After Auguste Moreau (French, 1834–1917) A graceful French School bronze depicting La Source (The Spring), catalogued as **after Auguste Moreau** and dating from approximately 1900. This elegant Belle Époque sculpture portrays a youthful nude female figure turning modestly while gathering flowing drapery around her body. The sweeping folds spiral through the composition with an almost water-like movement, creating an allegorical representation of a natural spring and the traditional themes of purity, renewal and vitality. The bronze displays a pleasing contrast between the smooth modelling of the female form and the more energetic treatment of the surrounding drapery. Viewed from different angles, the composition reveals changing patterns of movement, light and shadow. An attractive **warm brown-green patina** remains across the surface, with naturally exposed golden-bronze highlights to some of the raised areas. The figure stands upon a shaped polished **black marble base**, believed to be original. Auguste Moreau (1834–1917) belonged to the distinguished Moreau family of French sculptors and became known for elegant allegorical figures, youthful female subjects and decorative compositions combining academic modelling with Romantic naturalism. Documented versions of *La Source* bearing Auguste Moreau's signature are known. The present example is unsigned and differs in scale from a documented larger signed version. It has therefore been responsibly catalogued as **after Auguste Moreau**, based upon the model and stylistic comparison, rather than presented as an autograph work by the artist. Stylistically, the sculpture combines Classical Revival influences with the increasingly fluid and organic qualities associated with Belle Époque and Art Nouveau design. No foundry mark has been identified and consequently no particular foundry or casting process is attributed without further documentary or technical evidence. Provenance Private collection. Subsequently curated, researched and catalogued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record. Attribution and Research: The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market. These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations. Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art. Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service. Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.