Antique Sculpture by Philippe Poitevin

This unique and original piece, high 42.5 cm Terracotta is a carved and signed by Philippe Poitevin (1831-1907).

Philippe Poitevin is a sculptor from the Marseille region, born in 1831. Student at the School of Fine Arts in Paris Joseph Marius Ramus and Armand Toussaint, he exhibited at the 1855 Salon artist, a sculptor specializing in busts. His first success at the Salon of 1859, exposing a bronze statue entitled ''The ball player'' followed by ''top player''. The latter was bought by the state for the Museum of Fine Arts of Marseille, Museum for which he will carry out facade ornaments.

It is here that Pan is the god of nature and shepherds.

In Greek mythology, Pan was born in Arcadia. It is ugly, because he wears horns and goat feet.
He is the son of Hermes and a nymph. His mother horrified by the appearance of his son fled.
But Hermes carries his son on Mount Olympus where he became the god of shepherds and companion of wood nymphs when they danced.
Pan was a cheerful and noisy god. He lived in the wild places, forests, mountains and thick bushes.
He had an agility and exceptional speed, plus an ease to climb the rocks and hide in the bushes to sleep or watch the nymphs.
His sexuality was exuberant and his favorite pastime was to pursue the nymphs fled at his approach.

Contrary to legend, our artist reveals here a loving nymph leaving with confidence and levity to the desires of her suitor, she is blinded by the eyes of love.
Under the eye but nevertheless worried accomplice of Cupid, Pan handsome man becomes in the eyes of his beloved, his gaze is cool, he savors this moment, or it is finally loved.