AFTER JOSEPH CHINARD (FRENCH, 1756-1813): A LATE 19TH CENTURY MARBLE BUST OF MADAME RECAMIER ON A COLUMN DATED 1890 the youthful maiden looking downward and to dexter, clutching her drapery around her chest, signed to the back indistinctly 'Moignan Oreste 1890', raised on an associated alabaster pedestal, with circular top over fluted column shaft and stepped base, the bust 57cm high, 127cm high overall  The original bust by Joseph Chinard, made in 1802-1805, is now in the permanent collection of the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lyon.  Madame Récamier (French 1777-1849) was considered by many as the most beautiful and charming woman of her time. She was famous for her manners, conversation, intelligence, her kind disposition and of course her great beauty; and an invitation to her salon was considered a great honour. The most distinguished and well educated men of the day frequented her house, and from the early days of the French Consulate to almost the end of the July Monarchy her salon in Paris was one of the chief resorts of literary and political society. These visitors included such distinguished people as Lucien Bonaparte, Moreau, Bernadotte, La Harpe, Benjamin Constant, and David; and both David and Gerard painted portraits of her.