Albert Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (French, 1824-1887) "Melodie" Superb 32" Golden Patinated Bronze Sculpture - This stunning piece is an exceptionally rare item, by renowned French sculptor Albert Ernest Carrier-Belleuse. The sculpture is titled "Melodie", depicts a beautiful lady with a lyre, representing an allegory of music. The marble version of this bronze is kept at the Louvre museum in the Sculpture Department, as this is the most known bronze and representation of the artist's work. An identical cast of this bronze is also displayed in the Musikinstrumenten Museum in Berlin. The piece is signed "A. Carrier Belleuse Hors Concours" on the side of the piece. The sculpture shows spectacular attention to detail, and is finished with a beautiful golden patination and colored accents. The sculpture measures approx. 31.5"H x17"W x 12"D, and is in excellent condition. Carrier-Belleuse was one of the founding members of the Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts, and was made an officer of the Legion of Honour. Belleuse was both a sculptor and a painter that studied under the tutorship of David d'Angers. He went on to achieve fame both as an artist in his own right and for being the teacher of the world renowned Auguste Rodin. Rodin worked as an assistant in the studio of Carrier-Belleuse between 1864 and 1870. His first public showing was in the Paris Salon of 1851. He was regarded as one of the most prolific French sculptors of his day.