2779 - Emmanuel Villanis (1858, Lille – 1914, Paris)

Emmanuel Villanis (1858, Lille – 1914, Paris) "Genitrix." Original title Bronze, brown patina. Signed and titled. Foundry mark of the "Société des bronzes de Paris." A fully sculpted bust of a young mother being kissed on the cheek by her son. Villanis, one of the most important sculptors of French Art Nouveau, created mostly subtly patinated busts of adolescent girls and young, beautiful women, to whom he devoted nearly his entire oeuvre. The often lyrical titles appear on the base, mostly in artfully curving capital lettering. Villanis exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français from 1886 to 1910 and participated in the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris. Height: 47 cm. Brown patinated bronze bust of a young mother and child. Signed; foundry stamp “Société des bronzes de Paris.”