Jean-Baptiste CARPEAUX (1827-1875) Spring n°1 also known as Bust of Flora Circa 1870 White marble bust Signed "JB Carpeaux" on the left shoulder H. 56 cm LJ Related literature : -Michel Poletti, Alain Richarme, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, sculpteur. Catalogue raisonné de l'œuvre édité, Paris, Les Expressions contemporaines, 2003, model listed under no. BU 40, p. 143. Printemps n°1' or 'Buste de Flore' is, along with 'Flore accroupie', one of the two adaptations made for the edition from 'Triomphe de Flore'. In 1863, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux was commissioned to decorate the façade of the Pavillon de Flore in Paris. For the attic, the artist created a spectacular crouching figure of Flora protecting six putti with her arms. The work was a great success, leading Carpeaux to produce a bust edition in 1870. Unlike the relatively large terracotta edition, marble proofs are much rarer.