Joseph-Antoine Bernard (1866-1931) - Lot 166

Joseph-Antoine Bernard (1866-1931) Veiled dancer Model created circa 1905 Bronze with brown patina Signed "J. Bernard" on the terrace Bears the founder's stamp "A. A HEBRARD CIRE PERDUE H. 34.5 cm The model of the tiptoeing dancer created in 1905, which the artist used three times to create his famous Dance of the Roses group, is represented here as an isolated figure with a long drape enveloping the reverse. While there is also a version without a veil, known as the Danseuse nue, the one with the veil recalls the sculptor's interest in accentuating movement through the voluptuous use of pleats. This isolated figure, like La Danseuse nue and La Danse des Roses, was published by Adrien-Aurélien Hébrard, who began selling small-scale sculptures by Joseph Bernard in 1908. Although the first bronze of La Danse des Roses was presented at the Salon d'Automne in 1912, it seems that the casting of the individual figures only began in 1914. According to the author of the artist's 1989 catalog raisonné, Hébrard produced eight copies. Related literature: René Jullian, Joseph Bernard, Saint-Rémy- les-Chevreuses, Ed. Fondation de Coubertin, model listed under no. 75, p. 281.