The bust "La Boudeuse" is renowned as the work of French sculptor Jacques Saly, who was a student at the French Academy in Rome in the 1740s.
It is said that this piece, depicting a young girl, was exhibited at the Salon in Paris in 1750 and later sculpted by Saly in marble and other materials. While her identity remains unknown, she has been previously thought to be the daughter of Jean-Francois de Troy and Alexandrine d'Etoilles.
However, this has since been disproven. Interestingly, the bust was reproduced by acclaimed artist Francois Boucher in a series of panels for Madame de Pompadour in the early 1750s (another rumor is that the girl is Madame de Pompadour's daughter).
Saly's work has received continued interest and has even been copied in the 19th century. The sculptor himself was a student of Guillaume Coustou and eventually became the Director of the Royal Danish Academy of Art in 1754.
Ceramic
Approximately: H42cm x 20cm
Excellent condition.