Decorative ornament - Europe

Large Figurative Sculpture – Embracing Lovers – Hollow-Cast Patinated Metal – Black Marble – 30 cm – 6 kg
Description
Created around 1881-1882, it was originally designed as a small relief panel for The Gates of Hell-a monumental bronze door inspired by Dante Alighieri's Inferno. Rodin later extracted the figures to make a large, standalone sculpture.The Tragic Backstory: The sculpture does not depict an idealized romance, but rather the real-life 13th-century historical figures Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Rimini. In Dante's poem, the two fell in love while reading the legend of Lancelot and Guinevere. They were caught and murdered by Francesca's husband (who was also Paolo's brother) and condemned to Hell for eternity
Expressive sculpture of an embracing couple – monumental composition
Striking and substantial figurative sculpture depicting two nude lovers seated upon a roughly modelled rocky formation and locked in an intimate embrace.
The sculpture is particularly impressive because of its three-dimensional composition. The intertwined figures have been modelled so that the relationship between the two bodies changes as the sculpture is viewed from different angles. The smooth, powerful modelling of the human forms contrasts beautifully with the heavily textured rocky base.
The surface has a rich dark bronze-toned patina with warm golden highlights, giving considerable depth to the musculature and contours of the figures.
The sculpture is hollow cast. The underside is open and reveals the irregular metallic interior of the casting, as clearly shown in the photographs.
The sculpture is mounted on an elegant black marble base, contributing to its substantial overall weight of approximately 6 kg.
Specifications
Subject: embracing lovers / nude couple
Style: figurative / expressive modern sculpture
Estimated period: second half of the 20th century
Artist: unknown
Signature: no visible signature identified
Material: Bronze
Casting: hollow
Base: black marble
Height: approximately 30–31 cm
Width: approximately 18 cm
Weight: approximately 6 kg including marble base
The sculpture presents very well and has an attractive naturally varied patina. Surface irregularities, minor marks and variations are consistent with the character and age of the object.
Please examine the photographs carefully. Detailed photographs from all sides, including the underside and interior of the casting, have been provided and form an integral part of the description.
A heavy, highly decorative and expressive sculpture with considerable presence, equally suited to a contemporary, classical or eclectic interior.
The sculpture will be packaged with particular care because of its weight.