Art Deco sculpture. France, 1920s-30s. "Panther". Bronze. Patina wear at some points of the piece (head, ears...). Provenance: Alain Delon collection. Measurements: 97 x 38 x 54 cm. The sculpture was part of the private collection of the famous French film actor Alain Delon, and in fact appears next to him in a photograph belonging to an article in the magazine "¡Hola!" in the 1990s. Magnificent sculpture in bronze with a dark patina, representing a panther approximately life-size, in a seated position, with its tail tucked up, its front legs straight and its head erect, following to some extent the composition of the ancient Egyptian sculptures dedicated to the goddess Bastet in her feline form. Its treatment, however, denotes a distinctly modern aesthetic: the anatomical modelling reveals a profound knowledge of nature, and at the same time a synthesising intention, which seeks to eliminate the superfluous in order to capture the essence of the animal, its strength and fierceness, despite the panther's static position. The depiction of wild animals was one of the most frequent themes during the Art Deco period, given that this was the period of the discovery of wild Africa, mainly by reporters covering the new rallies. European society was fascinated by exotic wildlife in the wild, a reflection of a world still to be exploited, still far from the control imposed by civilisation. Representations of animals of all kinds, especially felines, but also birds, gazelles, elephants, etc., proliferated. However, they were always treated in accordance with the aesthetics of the period, with a solid classicist, orderly and harmonious base, synthetic forms reduced to their essence, expressive and forceful in their simplicity. Of all the depictions of wild animals in Art Deco, the panther motif was particularly common, given that at this time qualities such as speed and elegance were particularly valued. Art Deco developed from the 1920s onwards, although it enjoyed a long life thanks to the popularity of the cinema, which spread its aesthetic even into the 1940s, covering almost the entire inter-war period. The Déco aesthetic is, in a sense, an amalgam of many different styles and movements of the early 20th century and, unlike Art Nouveau, was influenced by the early avant-garde, notably Constructivism, Cubism, Futurism and even Bauhaus rationalism. Progressive archaeological discoveries in Ancient Egypt also left their mark on certain hard lines and the solidity of Art Deco forms. Likewise, as a style of the machine age, it used the innovations of the times for its forms: the streamlined lines of modern aviation, electric lighting, marine cladding, skyscrapers, etc. These influences are reflected in designs of fractioned, symmetrical and clearly geometrical forms. However, it is fundamentally classical art, although it approaches classicism from a new perspective, based on archaeology and elementary aesthetic principles. Art Deco forms are idealised, balanced and proportioned, but at the same time synthetic and essential, far removed from the direct inspiration of nature at the end of the 19th century.