Allegory of Agriculture 1865

"Allegory of Agriculture" is a small-scale sculpture created in 1865 by French sculptor Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux. The piece, housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, depicts a reclining female figure, likely representing Earth, with a male figure holding a bull, symbolizing agriculture and the bounty of the land. This work is a fine example of Carpeaux's stylistic approach, known for its dynamic composition and expressive, rough-hewn surfaces, evident in the textured surfaces of the figures and the swirling drapery.