René LETOURNEUR (1898-1990) - Lot 147

René LETOURNEUR (1898-1990) Nude with drape V 1979 Carrara marble Monogrammed (on the right terrace): RL Signed (on the front terrace): LETOURNEUR 74.5 x 27 x 16 cm Like the stonemasons of the Middle Ages, René Letourneur constrains his figure to the dimensions of his stone. This is what he did for his Nu au drapé V, the block of which is a triangular "chute" from the corner of his group entitled Jeux (see 2009 EXHIBITION, p. 150- 151, no. 142-145, repr.). His bather figure makes the characteristic gesture of pointing her foot towards the water, adopted by Falconet's Baigneuse (1757, Musée du Louvre) or Jane Poupelet's Baigneuse (1932, La Piscine - Musée d'Art et d'Industrie André Diligent). Two other sculptures from the Nude with Draped series are featured in this sale (cat. no. 83 and cat. no. 110). Bibliography : 2009 EXHIBITION, p. 139, no. 131, repr.