Etienne-Maurice FALCONET (Paris, 1716 - 1791 ) Innocence and Love Pair of terracotta groups Signed and dated 'Falconet fct / 1753' on Innocence and 'Falconet / fecit' on Love Height: 16.5 cm Resting on bases painted in imitation of green marble Total height: 28.5 cm Love and Innocence, pair of terracottas, by E.-M. Falconet Provenance: Anonymous sale; Paris, Hôtel Drouot, Oger et Dumont, 3 December 2003, no. 185 ; Acquired at this sale by the current owners Although in 1753 Falconet was not yet an Academician or an official sculptor at the Manufacture de Sèvres, a status he obtained in 1757, he knew and frequented François Boucher and was already inspired by his charming drawings of children's games. Our two terracottas herald the body of statuettes produced in biscuit at Sèvres which, under the name of "Enfants Falconet", were to make his reputation. Etienne-Maurice FALCONET (Paris, 1716 - 1791 )