Cast zinc with brown and green patina, partly cold-painted
France, circa 1910
Emmanuel Villanis (1858-1914) - French sculptor
Signed in the cast ‘E. Villanis’ on the plinth
Music making and singing putto with cymbals seated on a stork, standing on a naturalistic rock plinth
Total height, including the plinth: 59 cm
Good condition
Typical humorous, expressive and rare work of the sculptor Emmanuel Villanis; the current highest auction record for a similar work by Villanis is €13,000

The present work by the French sculptor Emmanuel Villanis (1858-1914) is made of cast zinc and depicts is a singing and winged putto sitting on a stork and holding cymbals in his hands. The stork stands on a naturalistic rock plinth. The cast features a brown and green patina and was cold-painted on the figure of the putto. The expressiveness of the putto, singing with mouth wide open, features the typical handwriting of Villanis, while the motive and the material are rarely found in his oeuvre.

The figure is signed in the cast with ‘E. Villanis’ on the plinth. It shows two restored breaking points to the arms and one to the beak of the stork. Otherwise good overall impression. The overall dimensions, including the plinth, are 59 cm.

Emmanuel Villanis (1858-1914)

The French sculptor Emmanuel Villanis studied at the Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti in Turin. He is recorded especially for his numerous female bronze busts. In his works, elements of the Art Nouveau style come together with the shapes of the classical antiquity. Also, some characters are reminiscent of the symbolism, which are often provided with a subtle eroticism.

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