Workshop of Johann Baptist STRAUB, Bust of woman, Bavaria c. 1750-1770

This sculpted bust of a woman perfectly captures the elegance and exuberance of Bavarian Rococo, which reached its apogee in the 18th century. Attributed to Johann Baptist Straub (1704-1784), one of the most famous representatives of this movement, it reveals the virtuosity of his art, combining ornamental refinement and sensitive expressivity. Trained in the workshops of Munich and Vienna, Straub was renowned for his ability to sublimate Baroque influences by adorning them with a light, voluptuous fantasy typical of Rococo.
This bust evokes some of these emblematic masterpieces, such as the Ceres in the Palais Torring or Saint Agatha of Tegernsee, with its sophisticated hairstyle adorned with flowers and its sensual drapery revealing the figure’s breasts. The spiralling floral motifs and waving hair convey the lyricism and expansive dynamism characteristic of her art. The evocation of perfume emanating from a flowery hairstyle, generous flesh offered to the touch, a bosom revealed by a play of transparency and crumpled fabrics - everything in this work celebrates the senses and immerses us in the very quintessence of the Rococo, designed to enchant the eye and awaken the spirit with its irresistible aesthetic.