The sculpture depicts the bust of Madame du Barry, a celebrated figure of the French court in the 18th century. Madame du Barry’s face appears serene and slightly detached, with a forward gaze that conveys dignity and grace. Her features are soft and smooth, her skin rendered with great mastery, while her elaborately styled hair reflects the fashion of the time. The drapery of the bust, sculpted with remarkable skill, suggests the movement of fabric and contributes to an effect of natural elegance. Madame du Barry (Jeanne Bécu, 1743–1793) was the last mistress of King Louis XV of France, succeeding Madame de Pompadour as the central figure in the monarch’s private life. Her influence at the court of Versailles was significant: she became a symbol of the luxury and elegance of Louis XV’s later reign, but also an emblem of the social and moral tensions that preceded the French Revolution.
"L'eredità di Isabella. Indagine sul collezionismo privato nelle terre gonzaghesche" catalogue of the exhibition held at Palazzo della Ragione in Mantua, catalogo n° 86, pp. 184, 185 - 292 - 293.
