AUGUSTIN VAN DEN KERCKHOVE | BUST OF FLORA

P. Verbraeken, Living Marble: Belgian Sculptors, 1800-1930, Brussels, 2017, pp. 112-113

The important Belgian sculptor Augustin Van Den Kerckhove, who gave himself the nickname Saïbas, came from an artistic family that counted no fewer than nine sculptors. He trained at the Academy of Antwerp before establishing himself in Brussels and Paris. Specialising in allegorical and mythological subjects, as well as portraiture, Van Den Kerckhove frequently exhibited his work abroad, including in London. He further distinguished himself in the decoration of illustrious interiors, such as the Royal Concert Hall in Antwerp. 

This exuberant bust of a smiling woman with flowers in her hair, representing Spring or Flora, showcases the sculptor's skill in texturing the marble surface.