87 - Terracotta bust of Saint James. A beautiful oval face with striking, expressive features, wide-open eyes, a mustache, and a forked beard with wavy strands. The saint wears a wide-brimmed hat adorned with a seashell. He is clad in a cloak fastened with a small pectoral clasp. Vent hole at the back.

Terracotta bust of Saint James. A beautiful oval face with striking, expressive features, wide-open eyes, a mustache, and a forked beard with wavy strands. The saint wears a wide-brimmed hat adorned with a seashell. He is clad in a cloak fastened with a small pectoral clasp. Vent hole at the back. Le Mans, workshop of Pierre Biardeau, mid-17th century H.: 49.5 cm (Visible damage and losses, restorations) Pierre Biardeau (1608–1671) came from the Le Mans sculptors’ circle and remained faithful to the stylistic tradition of his peers: slender figures, realistic faces, and characters expressed in an intimate manner. He knew how to bring volume to life, thereby creating a sense of dynamic movement. Here, the expression lines on the forehead, the prominent brow ridges so characteristic of Biardeau’s chisel work, the slightly parted mouth, and the stern gaze imbue this sculpture with all the dynamic energy that the artist was able to convey in his work. This bust can be compared to the sculpture of Saint Paul (inv. no. Cl. MH15-02-2000) on loan to the Maine-et-Loire General Council (fig.). Reference: G. Bres-Bautier and F. Le Boeuf F (eds.), *Terre et Ciel: Terracotta Sculpture of Maine (16th and 17th Centuries)*, *Cahiers du Patrimoine* 66, 2003, cat. no. 61, p. 174.