Flora - Marble Sculpture

Étienne-Maurice Falconet · France (Paris) · Model c. 1750-1760, executed c. 1770
Marble
ADR · V · MMXXVI

The sculpture represents Flora, the Roman goddess of spring and flowers, associated with renewal, fertility, and the seasonal cycle of nature.

The nude female figure is seated in a relaxed pose on a naturalistic base. One leg is bent and drawn upward while the other extends forward. The torso inclines slightly and the head is lowered in a downward gaze. The figure holds garlands of flowers that rest across the base, and a wreath is arranged in the hair. The body is modeled with smooth transitions and restrained anatomical definition. The composition is contained within a low oval setting supported by a decorative plinth with vegetal ornament.

Falconet was known for small-scale sculptural works characterized by clarity of form, balanced composition, and refined surface treatment. The work reflects the mid eighteenth-century French preference for controlled naturalism, graceful movement, and decorative refinement associated with the late Rococo and early Neoclassical period.

Detail

The figure is seated on a low base composed of intertwined flowers and draped fabric. Garlands and blossoms are arranged around the figure’s legs, while a length of drapery lies across the surface in soft, layered folds. The combination of vegetal elements and cloth creates a cushioned setting associated with Flora’s domain of spring and growth.