Neo-gothic Harpy, France 19th Century

This walnut wood sculpture, representing a harpy, is a typical example of the neo-Gothic style of the 19th century. Inspired by medieval art and Greek mythology, it mixes human and animal figures, in an equivocal posture. The harpy, a symbol of duality between the celestial and the monstrous, evokes the gargoyles and chimeras of Gothic cathedrals, designed to repel evil spirits.