Bather 1600 - 1615

"Bather" is a bronze sculpture by Barthélemy Prieur, a French sculptor active in the late 16th century. The sculpture, created between 1600 and 1615, depicts a nude female figure, likely a mythological nymph or goddess, as she steps out of a bath. The pose is both elegant and naturalistic, with a subtle sensuality conveyed in the figure’s curves and gesture. The sculpture’s small scale suggests it was intended for a private collection, perhaps as a decorative object for a wealthy patron's home. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, "Bather" is an example of the refined and decorative style of bronze sculpture prevalent in France during the early 17th century.