after JEAN LOUIS LEMOYNE (French 1665-1755) A MARBLE PORTRAIT BUST, "Jules Hardouin-Mansart," 19TH CENTURY, nicely carved with head turned sinister and wearing a long periwig of curls cascading over his classically draped shoulders, revealing the cravat wrapped neck ending in lace trim and flanked by folds of lace revealing his badge of the Order de St. Michel, on a later circular socle. Height: 14" (with socle 17 1/2") Width: 12" Depth: 6" Note: Jules Hardouin-Mansart (French 1646-1708) was the Architecte et Surintendant des Batiments du Roi under Louis XIV. Some notable examples of his work are the Palais de Versailles, the chapel of Les Invalides, the Château de Marly (demolished 1806), the Place Vendôme as well as numerous other buildings and places.Jean Louis Lemoyne, a pupil of the Baroque sculptor Antoine Coysevox, was acclaimed in his day for his talented works which led to commissions during the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV. This present sculpture is after the original he presented to the Académie in 1703 as his "morceau de reception" and is considered one of the most accomplished of his portrait busts. He was not known to have sculpted many busts of notable persons during his lifetime. Jules H. Mansart was a powerful protector of the Académie hence his bust being the subject and its' quality affirm Lemoyne's place before this highly esteemed institution. Today the original can be found in the Louvre and represents a fine example of French Baroque portrait sculpture capturing the confident personality through a serene glowing expression framed by a riot of curls and lace amidst dramatic folds of his cloak so reflective of this style in this era.