Portrait of a girl
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Marble, on bleu turquin marble plinth
Dimensions
Height (with socle): 16 1/2 in. (41.9 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jules Bache Collection, 1949
Accession Number
49.7.71a–c
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Portrait of a Girl*, in the 18th century by an French sculptor, captures the innocence and poise of youth in finely carved white marble. Perched atop a luxurious bleu turquin marble pl—a deep blue stone prized for its rarity and vibrancy—the bust stands just 16½ inches tall, inviting intimate contemplation. Such small-scale sculptures were popular in aristocratic French homes, serving as personal mementos or decorative treasures that blended portraiture with ornament. In the opulent world of 18th-century France, during the Rococo era's emphasis on grace and refinement, marble b...