Antonin Mercié (1845-1916)

This composition is a well-known and frequently reproduced type of late 19th-century French sculpture, which played a prominent role in Antonin Mercié's oeuvre. The powerful diagonal structure of the two-figure group is built around the movement of the ascending, winged figure, while the weight of the carried male figure and his twisting posture maintain the balance of the composition. The precise anatomical shaping and the clear structuring of movement reflect Mercié's academic training. The work represents the era's aspiration where the mythological–allegorical theme primarily appears as a formal and plastic issue.