A sculpture by Gustave Doré for Orsay

5/2/24 - Acquisition - Paris, Musée d’Orsay - "It was not the least of the Salon’s astonishments to find G. Doré authoritatively marking his place among the sculptors with a large and highly poetic group: La Parque et l’Amour The public is gripped by this Dantesque composition in which one senses a breath of Michelangelo [1]". Gustave Doré created a surprise at the 1877 Salon by exhibiting a sculpture for the very first time (ill. 1 and 2). Although he was just starting out in the discipline, he was already showing his ambition by presenting a large plaster cast. This work, with a patina that gives it the appearance of bronze, could be seen in the fascinating exhibition that the Musée d’Orsay devoted to the artist in 2014 (see article). Owned by Jacques Garcia, who entrusted Sotheby’s with the task of selling part of his collection in May 2023, it was finally bought by the Paris museum.

2. Gustave Doré (1832-1883)
Fate and Love, 1877
Patinated plaster - 300 x 150 cm
Paris, Musée d’Orsay
Photo: RMN-GP/Sophie Crépy

See the image in its page

2. Gustave Doré (1832-1883)
Fate and Love, 1877
Patinated plaster - 300 x 150 cm
Paris, Musée d’Orsay
Photo: RMN-GP/Sophie Crépy

See the image in its page

A naked young boy in the arms of a woman: the iconography is not unlike that of the Virgin and Child or even the Virgin of Sorrows. But it is really an allegory, that of Love and Death so closely linked. The relatively classical subject is treated realistically, like many sculptures from the 1870s, but also with originality: Eros seems to be abandoning himself in the arms of the Parca Atropos. A thread drawn from a distaff - two elements that have now disappeared (ill. 3) - was held by Love before passing between the scissor blades held by the Parca. The artist completes his allegory with various objects, an hourglass, a quiver and arrows. He also plays on the contrast between the two figures, the nakedness and youth of the young…