BY LOUIS ARDISSON, PARIS, CIRCA 1870

Louis Ardisson was a Parisian artist who specialized in superbly-executed allegorical bas-relief panels both in marble and wood, which were exhibited at the Paris Salons during the last quarter of the 19th century. He collaborated with Jules Allard on a spectacular mantelpiece with a depiction of Neptune for the Fifth Avenue mansion of Edward J. Berwind, sold Christie's, New York, 11 November 2007, lot 150. Very similar plaques depicting The Abduction of Europa and Venus and Vulcan are in the collection of the Dahesh Museum, New York.