A fascinating story surrounding a beautiful piece of art: Bust of a woman, made of marble. In the year 2000, a ...

A fascinating story surrounding a beautiful piece of art: Bust of a woman, made of marble. In the year 2000, a private collector purchased the sculpture by a female French collector, for $10,000. In addition to a small metal plaque with the words "Alexandre Falgie're" and "Cleo", the collector also has two photographs of Cleo de Merode's portraits that were apparently sent with the sculpture. In Cleo De Merode's autobiography, Le Ballet de ma vie, she details the facts. The story goes that she agreed for Falguière to sculpt only a bust. As for the famous full body (nude) sculpture of her by the artist that stands in the Musée d'Orsay, de Mérode claims that Falguie're created two busts off of her but then created, without her agreement, and without her even posing nude for him, the full body nude. The sculpture created quite the scandel in its time first and foremost due to it being a full body nude of a well known "celebrity". But, of course, the scandel grew once she denied the fact of even posing for Falguie're nude, claiming the sculpture is somewhat of a fallacy or deception. The private collector cannot vouche for the validity and has no official documentation. 34cm width x 40cm height, including stone base. In overall very good condition, with some small chips and chafing. For more on the story: https://youtu.be/8AXZnwZyefQ
https://youtu.be/8AXZnwZyefQ