Early 20th Century Art Deco Bronze Entitled "Diana" by Pierre Le Faguays

An iconic early 20th Century Art Deco bronze figure of Diana the huntress dressed in a tunic with her hand lifted above her head releasing her bow. Exhibiting excellent rich green patination and very fine hand finished detail, signed Le Faguays

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Height: 68 cm

Condition: Excellent Original Condition

Circa: 1930

Materials: Bronze

Book Ref Art Deco & Other Figures by Bryan Catley

SKU: 20045

ABOUT

Pierre Le Faguays

Pierre Le Faguays (French, 1892 ~ 1962) Faguays was born in Nantes, France and became famous for the originality he gave his dancers, many of which were inspired by the statues of Tanagra. He gained a medal of honour for his work in 1927. He was a best friend of Max Le Verrier and the Le Verrier foundry produced many of his pieces. He used 2 pseudonyms as well as his own name and they were Fayral and Guerbe. Which were the family names of his Mother and his Wife. He was a leading sculptor and his work is frequently praised for its high quality and attention to anatomical accuracy. He also produced designs for Goldscheider in Paris under the “La Stele” label. He worked in several mediums including ivory, bronze, spelter, stone, wood, alabaster and ceramics. He studied with his friend Max Le Verrier. He was a good friend of both Marcel Bouraine and Max Le Verrier and indeed the Le Verrier foundry produced many of the Le Faguays statues. All three had studied together at the Beaux Arts in Geneva and remained life-long friends.

Diana

In Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of the hunt, the moon and nature being associated with wild animals and woodland, and having the power to talk to and control animals. She was eventually equated with the Greek goddess Artemis, though she had an independent origin in Italy. She was worshipped in ancient Roman religion and is revered in Roman Neopaganism and Stregheria. She was known to be the virgin goddess of childbirth and women. She was one of the three maiden goddesses — along with Minerva and Vesta — who swore never to marry.

Oak groves were especially sacred to her. According to mythology (in common with the Greek religion and their deity Artemis), she was born with her twin brother Apollo on the island of Delos, daughter of Jupiter and Latona. Diana made up a triad with two other Roman deities: Egeria the water nymph, her servant and assistant midwife; and Virbius, the woodland god.

Appearance

As a goddess of hunting, Diana often wears a short tunic. She is often portrayed holding a bow, and carrying a quiver on her shoulder, accompanied by a deer or hunting dogs. Like Venus, she was portrayed as beautiful and youthful. The crescent moon, sometimes worn as a diadem, is a major attribute of the goddess.

Worship

Diana was initially just the hunting goddess, associated with wild animals and woodlands. She also later became a moon goddess, supplanting Titan goddess Luna. She also became the goddess of childbirth and ruled over the countryside. Catullus wrote a poem to Diana in which she has more than one alias: Latonia, Lucina, Iuno, Trivia, Luna.

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