JEAN-ANTOINE HOUDON (FRENCH, 1741-1828): A PAIR OF LATE 18TH / EARLY 19TH CENTURY BRONZE BUSTS OF 'LE BAISER DONNÉ ET LE BAISER RENDU', PROBABLY CAST BY PIERRE-PHILIPPE THOMIRE (1751-1843) one depicting a couple in a sensuous embrace, half-length, encircled by a garland of roses, the other a satyr and a Bacchante kissing, a tambourine slung over her right shoulder, both raised on spreading cylindrical socles over laurel wreath cast circular bases, light brown patination, on alabaster cylindrical plinths with similar laurel mounts to the square bases,  30cm high (2) These exceptionally well cast bronze reductions are typical of the fine bronzes produced by Thomire and his workshop in the early 19th century. The crisp casting and minute chasing to the hair and other details are all indicative of his workshop. Houdon originally designed 'Le Baiser donné'  (The kiss given) in 1772 and it proved to be such a popular composition that he produced the pendant group 'Le Baiser rendu' (The Kiss Received) soon after and produced a number of marble copies for selected patrons. He also allowed his former pupil, Pierre-Philippe Thomire, who by that time was a renown bronzier in his own right; to produce a series of small bronze reductions of the pair of busts. A comparable pair of busts attributed to Thomire are in now the permanent collection of the Wallace Collection. Related Literature: L. Reau, 'Houdon - sa vie et son oeuvre', Paris, 1964, p. 22, no. 54. R. Wenley, French Bronzes in the Wallace collection, London, 2002, pp. 92-3.