French Renaissance Limestone Male Bust

This moving bust carved from limestone from the area around Tonnerre (Burgundy) depicts a man leaning slightly to the right, his arms crossed over his chest. He is dressed in a fine tunic, pinched at the neck by a clasp, which folds over his chest and forearms in delicate drapery, giving our work the elegance and realism of 16th-century works.  These accents are echoed in our man's carefully sculpted face, enhanced by a finely chiselled wavy hair style. Very expressive, it features a straight nose, a small, fleshy mouth framed by a moustache and a short neat beard, and piercing eyes that seem to stare intensely at a point. This serious, almost meditative expression suggests an attitude of reflection or contemplation. The draping of the tunic at the bottom seems to indicate that our protagonist is shown seated. Its twisting movement probably suggests that it was originally in dialogue with another sculpture, once displayed in front of it.