CLAUDIUS MARIOTON (FRENCH, 1844-1919): AN EXCEPTION SILVER AND GILT PATINATED BRONZE FIGURE OF A WATER NYMPH the nude, winged nymph holding a reed stem, her silvered drapery flowing behind, raised on a silver and gilt water lily, one leaf signed 'CMarioton Sc Cisl Epreuve de L'Artiste 12 ' raised on a green onyx dome over a Rouge Griotte marble spreading plinth and a black marble circular base, over a further square marble base, the black marble base inscribed in gilt and silvered lettering: Claudius MARIOTON INVr SCr CiSr, 73.5cm Stamped 'artist proof', there is a possibility the statue may have been owned by the sculptor himself. The luxurious combination of silver and gilt as well as various coloured hard stones and marbles is particularly appealing and may indicate it was a special commission for an exhibition.  Related Literature: P. Kjellberg, Bronzes of the 19th Century: Dictionary of Sculptors, Atglen, 1994, p. 457-8