2771
CARPEAUX, Jean-Baptiste (1827 Valenciennes – 1875 Courbevoie, near Paris)
Large bronze sculpture of a mother with child—“La Tendresse Maternelle”
Patinated bronze. Signed “JB. Carpeaux," foundry mark "F. Barbedienne Fondeur Paris," and an indented stamp signature "Reduction Mecanique A. Collas," number "124"; the casting cannot be dated. H 78 cm. 62 kg.
Seated figure of a young mother in an elegant dress, her right breast bared, tenderly holding her sleeping child on her lap. “La Tendresse Maternelle” is one of Carpeaux’s earliest works, which he modeled at the age of only 27, before departing for Rome. In 1870, the French bronze caster Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810–1892) discovered the model in Carpeaux’s studio in Auteuil. He praised the enchanting sculpture for its natural grandeur and acquired the rights to it for 3,000 francs. Barbedienne asked Carpeaux to redesign the sculptural group on a larger scale, roughly corresponding to the size of this bronze sculpture. Despite this request, the foundry cast fewer than ten bronze sculptures based on the original model at that time; this sculpture bears the number “124.” The original terracotta model is housed at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris (Inv. No. 5251); a plaster cast can be seen at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris (Inv. No. RF 3916). Signs of age and wear, patina rubbed off, minor scratches and dents.
Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux: French sculptor, painter, and engraver; in 1846, he entered the Académie des Beaux-Arts and became a student of Francisque Joseph Duret; in 1854, he was awarded the Prix de Rome at an exhibition of the Académie Française.
All lots with a reserve (starting price) of at least €2,000 will be cross-referenced with the Art Loss Register database.
Bibliography: See Sotheby’s online auction, May 2022; M. Poletti, A. Richarme, *Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux sculpteur: catalogue raisonné de l’œuvre édité*, Paris, 2003, pp. 98 (ill. p. 99), SE 20.
Provenance: Estate of Peter Kaus.
For this lot, we recommend personal pickup, fine art transport, or shipping through ThePackengers.
Call time: Oct. 30, 2026 | estimated 4:52 p.m. (CET)
Limit 5500 €
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• Calling time: 30. | Oct 2026 | approximately 16:52 uhr
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• Calling time: 30. | Oct 2026 | approximately 16:52 uhr