John J. Gredler Works of Art

French Bronze 'Head of a Woman' by Emile Antoine Bourdelle,

French Bronze 'Head of a Woman' by Emile Antoine Bourdelle.  Circa 1920.

Wonderfully expressive cast bronze 'Head of a Woman' attributed to French sculptor Emile Antoine Bourdelle. The stylized face and flowing hair typical of his later Art Deco inspired works. Lovely verdigis patina with some gilt highlights. Mounted on a wood base. 'Bourdelle' written in ink on the bottom of the base. Measures: 8.5 inches high (5.24 bronze without base) 5.5 wide 5.5 deep Provenance: A Beekman Place Estate, NYC.

French sculptor Emile Antoine Bourdelle (30 October 1861 – 1 October 1929), worked as an assistant to Rodin from 1893 to 1908. He was an accomplished sculptor in his own right and developed an independent style. After Rodin's death in 1917, Bourdelle was, with Aristide Maillol, considered to be France's greatest living sculptor.

Bourdelle was particularly interested in the relationship of sculpture to architecture and made a series of reliefs for the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, based on the dancing of Isadora Duncan. Boudelle was a teacher of Giacometti and Henri Matisse, and an important figure in the Art Deco movement and the transition from the Beaux-Arts style to modern sculpture. His studio became the Musée Bourdelle, an art museum dedicated to his work, located at 18, rue Antoine Bourdelle, in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, France.