“La Sève” or Metamorphoses of Daphne by Raoul Larche

An important gilded bronze sculpture of a nude Daphne standing on a circular terrace covered with plants, darting over the nymph’s body. It embodies the delicacy and fluidity of movement typical of the Art Nouveau aesthetic. The female figure is surrounded by floral motifs and slices of trees, evoking nature and often symbolising vitality.
This sculpture stands out for the finesse of its details. The work testifies to Raoul Larche’s talent for capturing feminine beauty in a style that is both realistic and artistically stylised.

A plaster model presented at the Salon des Artistes in 1893 under the name “La Sève”, depicting the allegory of the metamorphosis of Daphne after the poet Ovid.

French work executed between 1898-1900.
Signature: Raoul Larche.
Founder: “Siot-Decauville. Fondeur. Paris. 1/3”.
Edition of only 3 copies, it bears the number 1 and its reference in the foundry catalogue: 9537.