CIRCA 1760, LARGE INCISED X TO THE UNDERSIDE, THE MODEL BY FALCONET

The present subject has traditionally been thought to be after an engraving by Jean-Baptiste Huet, but no basis for this has been found. For a discussion, as well as a similar biscuit example, the factory model and a terracotta example see M.-N. Pinot de Villechenon, Falconet à Sèvres 1757-1766 ou l'art de plaire, Paris, 2001, p. 80 and pp. 142-3, nos. 75a-b. Also see X. Salmon, Madame de Pompadour et les arts, Paris, 2002, pp. 492-3, no. 209, for an example included in the exhibition as Madame de Pompadour was known to own the model.