Denys Puech Decorative Objects

Denys Puech (1854 – 1942) Terracotta sculpture depicting a beautiful, elegant woman in her Sunday best from the french provincial bourgeoisie. Rare original work on the market, sup...

Denys-pierre Puech French, 1854-1942 La Sirene Signed ‘D.PUECH’; inscribed F. BARBEDIENNE, Fondeur Patinated Bronze circa 19th century Foundry Cast: Ferdinand Barbedienne 37 1/2 in. x 27 in. x 16 in Notes: Puech conceived the idea for ‘La Sirene’ during his stay at the Villa Medici when he fell passionately in love with the celebrated opera singer Emma Calvé, who was then performing in Rome. Peuch wrote, "it is to her that I owe the inspiration for the group." The sculpture shows a winged chimeric siren with a tail of a fish abducting a Ephebus. Puech noted the rarity of the scene of a woman abducting a man, rather than the more common depiction of a man carrying away a female victim. Peuch says, “I had the presentiment that, with the Siren's rape of the Ephebus, I could express the force of passion, which reached towards the unknown, which, itself, might be fidelity or the fall..." In Greek mythology the sirens seduced sailors with their singing only to lead them to their death in the sea. Literature: Denys Puech...