Émile Louis Picault (1833–1915)

Émile Louis Picault's large bronze composition is a powerful, vertically structured work, where the dynamics of the two-figure group arise from the interdependent structure of the bodies. The raised arm of the winged female figure and the twisted posture of the male figure placed below give a distinct rhythm to the composition, while the details – the musculature, drapery, and surfaces – exhibit careful, consistent elaboration. The quality of the bronze casting and the plastic proportions reflect Picault's solid workshop practice. The work is a representative piece of late 19th-century French decorative sculpture, designed specifically for decorative and exhibition purposes.