Torchère figure (one of a pair) 19th century

"Torchère figure (one of a pair)" is a 19th-century sculpture by French artist Augustin Pajou, who was a prominent figure in the Neoclassical style. This life-size, white-painted plaster statue depicts a female figure draped in flowing fabric, holding a gilded torchère, a decorative object used to hold candles or torches. The sculpture's graceful pose and delicate features reflect Pajou's mastery of the Neoclassical style, which emphasized idealized forms and classical references. The torchère itself is a symbol of enlightenment and knowledge, adding further depth to the figure's symbolic meaning. The sculpture is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.