The Surprise

Provenance

Probably collection of Armand-Jean-Baptiste Maurin [d. by 1803], 1805.[1] Émile Ladan-Bockairy, Paris, by 1900. [2] George Blumenthal [1858-1941], New York, after 1911; (his sale, Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, 1-2 December 1932, no. 96); (Jean Seligmann).[3] Mrs. Jesse Isidor Straus [1876-1970], New York; gift 1942 to NGA. [1] The work corresponds to the description in the Maurin sale catalogue 1 April 1805, Paris, lot 44; Thirion, Les Adam et Clodion, Paris, 1885: 402. [2] Lent by Émile Ladan-Bockairy to the 1900 Exposition universelle in Paris, no. 4727, and Molinier/Marcou 1901, repro. [3] See annotated sales catalogue in NGA Curatorial Records.

The Surprise

Clodion

1799

Accession Number

1942.12.1

Medium

terracotta

Dimensions

overall (with self-base): 36.8 x 26 x 18.7 cm (14 1/2 x 10 1/4 x 7 3/8 in.)

Classification

Sculpture

Museum

National Gallery of Art

Washington, D.C., United States

Credit Line

Gift of Irma I. Straus in memory of her husband, Jesse Isidor Straus