Patinated Plaster Bust after Classical Antiquity - Louvre Workshop- 17¾"

A grand patinated plaster bust in the antique manner, early to mid-20th century, from the casting workshops of the Musée du Louvre.  The head is finely modeled with tightly curled hair and idealized classical features, evoking figures such as Hermes, Apollo, or Antinous. Its serene expression and harmonious proportions closely recall the celebrated Hermes of Praxiteles, discovered at Olympia in 1877 and attributed to the 4th-century Greek sculptor Praxiteles, one of the most influential masters of classical antiquity.

The surface presents a warm ivory tone with nuanced ochre patination, skillfully imitating aged marble and enhancing the subtle modeling of the face and curls. The underside bears a stamp from the Louvre’s casting workshops (Atelier de moulage du Musée du Louvre), inscribed “reproduction interdite,” confirming its origin as an official museum cast. Such plaster reproductions were produced for academic study and collectors, valued for their close fidelity to canonical ancient models. Condition is very good, with a timeworn patina and minor surface wear consistent with age.

Sculptural and elegant, it lends a quiet classical gravitas to an interior, whether placed on a console or elevated on a pedestal.