Large Antique Louvre Workshop Plaster Cast w/ Bold Contemporary Orange Finish - 62½" x 38¼"

This large antique plaster cast of the Stele of Philis was produced by the historic Atelier de moulage du musée du Louvre, as part of the academic tradition of supplying faithful casts to museums, art schools, universities, artists and private collectors. The Louvre archives record examples of this model made in 1881, between 1883 and 1891, and again around 1915. The original is the celebrated Greek funerary stele of Philis, carved in Thasian marble around 450–440 BC and preserved in the Louvre, depicting the seated young woman in finely draped garments holding an open box and scroll.

The cast retains the traditional construction of the Louvre workshop. On the reverse, the old filasse technique is visible, with fibrous tow embedded into the plaster to reinforce the large form. An incised stamp and the number 521, the Louvre workshop's catalogue reference for this model, appear at the lower right and identify it as an authentic historic museum cast. The plaster is housed within a discreet wooden support frame, fitted with two hooks, one on each side, for secure and easy wall hanging. 

More recently, the plaster has been painted a bold monochrome orange, giving the ancient relief a striking contemporary presence. On this large scale, the vivid color sharpens the silhouette and makes the folds and contours read almost graphically. The contrast between the classical Greek subject and saturated modern color gives the piece exceptional decorative impact, somewhere between archaeological fragment and contemporary sculpture. Mounted above a console, in an entrance hall or on a tall stairwell, it would make a powerful focal point while retaining the depth and history of an original Louvre workshop cast.