Antoine Bourdelle Sappho, 1887 / 1925 Condition prior to restoration, Kunsthaus Zürich, gift of Alexis Rudier
Along with Auguste Rodin and Aristide Maillol, Antoine Bourdelle (1861–1929) formed the triumvirate of early modern French sculptors. The Kunsthaus holds three of his works, the most important of which is the large-format depiction of Sappho, the most celebrated female poet of Antiquity. This representative work was exhibited outdoors for many years, and as a result its patina suffered severely, rendering further presentation impossible. Now, following careful restoration, the work is once again in excellent condition and can thus resume its rightful place in the important group of sculptures by French artists and artists living in France for which the Kunsthaus Zürich is justly admired. Bourdelle is joined not just by Rodin and Maillol but also by Henri Matisse">Henri Matisse and Alberto Giacometti, who studied under Bourdelle for a time. The collection presentation introduces the restored work and sets it in its context.
