Louis-Ernest BARRIAS (1840-1905) The nature revealing itself in front of Science. Proof in white marble, bronze with double patina, gilded and silvered, scarab sculpted in a lapis lazuli cabochon. Signed "E Barrias" in the lower part of the drape. Bears the mark "Susse Fres Edtrs" as well as the round stamp on the back. Rectangular base in brown and red veined marble. Total height : 74 cm. - Base : 26 x 17 x 4,5 cm. Small chips and slight damages to the base. This model in white marble was first commissioned to Louis-Ernest Barrias by the State in 1889 for the Faculty of Medicine of Bordeaux. A second version, polychrome, was destined for the main staircase of the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers in Paris. The latter was perfectly in line with the vast movement of rediscovery of polychrome sculpture of the time, launched by archaeological finds. The work met with great success, reinforced by its exhibition at the Universal Exhibition of 1900 and then at the one in Liège in 1905. Proofs of different sizes in bronze of various patinas or more precious composed of mixed materials such as bronze and marble, ivory for the head, bust, arms and feet were thus published to meet the demand. Bibliography : Pierre Kjellberg, Les bronzes du XIXème siècle, Les éditions de l'Amateur, Paris, 1987, variant of the model reproduced p. 50 and p. 20. Pierre Cadet, Susse Frères, 150 ans de sculptures 1837-1987, Édition Susse Frères, Paris, 1992, variant of the model reproduced on page 52.