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Learn MoreLe poète et la sirène by Émmanuel Hannaux
- Le poète et la sirène is regarded as the masterpiece of Émmanuel Hannaux's impressive oeuvre
- Created for the Salon of 1903, the intricately carved, sensuous group won him a medal of honor
- Masterfully composed, it captures a poet holding in his arms the nude figure of a siren
- It represents the aesthetic appeal and exoticism of design of the Art Nouveau period
- Get complete item description here
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Item No. 31-2384
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Description
Émmanuel Hannaux
1855-1934 | French
Le poète et la sirène
(The Poet and the Siren)
Signed "E. Hannavx"
Bronze
Le poète et la sirène is regarded as the masterpiece of Émmanuel Hannaux's impressive oeuvre. Created for the French Salon of 1903, the intricately carved, sensuous group won the artist a medal of honor, and it is widely regarded as his most accomplished work. Masterfully composed, this lifetime bronze cast of the famed sculpture captures a poet holding in his arms the. . .
1855-1934 | French
Le poète et la sirène
(The Poet and the Siren)
Signed "E. Hannavx"
Bronze
Le poète et la sirène is regarded as the masterpiece of Émmanuel Hannaux's impressive oeuvre. Created for the French Salon of 1903, the intricately carved, sensuous group won the artist a medal of honor, and it is widely regarded as his most accomplished work. Masterfully composed, this lifetime bronze cast of the famed sculpture captures a poet holding in his arms the. . .
Read more
Émmanuel Hannaux
1855-1934 | French
Le poète et la sirène
(The Poet and the Siren)
Signed "E. Hannavx"
Bronze
Le poète et la sirène is regarded as the masterpiece of Émmanuel Hannaux's impressive oeuvre. Created for the French Salon of 1903, the intricately carved, sensuous group won the artist a medal of honor, and it is widely regarded as his most accomplished work. Masterfully composed, this lifetime bronze cast of the famed sculpture captures a poet holding in his arms the nude figure of a siren, complete with her mermaid's tail. His outstretched arm grasps his lyre, but his attention is solely upon the beautiful creature who lays across his lap in a pose that is both sensual and graceful. As a whole, it represents the aesthetic appeal and exoticism of design of the Art Nouveau period.
The Sirens are among the most popular mythological subjects in the whole of art history, known for luring travelers to destruction with their melodious voices. The most well-known Siren lore comes from Homer’s Odyssey, in which they tempt the famed Odysseus on his journey home to Ithaca after the fall of Troy. Odysseus could not resist his chance to hear the famed song of the Sirens, as so, on the advice of the goddess Circe, he ordered his men to plug their ears and to tie him to the mast of his ship. No matter how much he struggled to reach the Sirens, his men kept him bound, and so he became the first to successfully hear — and survive — the Sirens’ song.
The subject of the Siren and the Poet also dates back to antiquity, though it is somewhat more of an enigma. An ancient Greek sculpture group of a seated poet and two sirens in the collection of the Getty is one of the earliest known renditions of the subject. It is believed the poet may represent Orpheus, who famously helped Jason resist the call of the Sirens. He may also be a mere mortal who has prevailed over the Sirens and triumphed over death. In either case, the fascinating grouping has intrigued artists for centuries, having been rendered by the likes of Gustave Moreau and Marc Chagall in addition to sculptors like Hannaux.
Hannaux's works reside in museums worldwide, including the British Museum in London, the Wallace Collection in London, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Two versions of Hannaux's Le poète et la sirène
reside today in the permanent collection of the Musée d'Orsay: the monumental marble created for the 1903 Salon and a bronze reduction. Our exquisite lifetime bronze displays the same expressive qualities of the 1903 marble and also surpasses the Musée d'Orsay's bronze in size.
Early 20th century
35" wide x 18" deep x 38 1/2" high
1855-1934 | French
Le poète et la sirène
(The Poet and the Siren)
Signed "E. Hannavx"
Bronze
Le poète et la sirène is regarded as the masterpiece of Émmanuel Hannaux's impressive oeuvre. Created for the French Salon of 1903, the intricately carved, sensuous group won the artist a medal of honor, and it is widely regarded as his most accomplished work. Masterfully composed, this lifetime bronze cast of the famed sculpture captures a poet holding in his arms the nude figure of a siren, complete with her mermaid's tail. His outstretched arm grasps his lyre, but his attention is solely upon the beautiful creature who lays across his lap in a pose that is both sensual and graceful. As a whole, it represents the aesthetic appeal and exoticism of design of the Art Nouveau period.
The Sirens are among the most popular mythological subjects in the whole of art history, known for luring travelers to destruction with their melodious voices. The most well-known Siren lore comes from Homer’s Odyssey, in which they tempt the famed Odysseus on his journey home to Ithaca after the fall of Troy. Odysseus could not resist his chance to hear the famed song of the Sirens, as so, on the advice of the goddess Circe, he ordered his men to plug their ears and to tie him to the mast of his ship. No matter how much he struggled to reach the Sirens, his men kept him bound, and so he became the first to successfully hear — and survive — the Sirens’ song.
The subject of the Siren and the Poet also dates back to antiquity, though it is somewhat more of an enigma. An ancient Greek sculpture group of a seated poet and two sirens in the collection of the Getty is one of the earliest known renditions of the subject. It is believed the poet may represent Orpheus, who famously helped Jason resist the call of the Sirens. He may also be a mere mortal who has prevailed over the Sirens and triumphed over death. In either case, the fascinating grouping has intrigued artists for centuries, having been rendered by the likes of Gustave Moreau and Marc Chagall in addition to sculptors like Hannaux.
Hannaux's works reside in museums worldwide, including the British Museum in London, the Wallace Collection in London, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Two versions of Hannaux's Le poète et la sirène
reside today in the permanent collection of the Musée d'Orsay: the monumental marble created for the 1903 Salon and a bronze reduction. Our exquisite lifetime bronze displays the same expressive qualities of the 1903 marble and also surpasses the Musée d'Orsay's bronze in size.
Early 20th century
35" wide x 18" deep x 38 1/2" high
Read less
Specifications
| Period: | 1816-1918 |
| Origin: | France |
| Type: | Sculpture |
| Depth: | 18.0 Inches |
| Width: | 35.0 Inches |
| Height: | 38.5 Inches |
| Style: | Art Nouveau |
Buy with Confidence
At M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.
Learn More
