Alabaster sculpture of a seated child reading a book

This alabaster sculpture depicts a child in a contemplative pose reading a book, a popular neoclassical motif that emerged in the late 18th to early 19th century. Such sculptures were often inspired by the works of renowned sculptors like Antonio Canova, who popularized idealized representations of children in classical poses. These decorative sculptures became particularly fashionable in European homes during the 19th and early 20th centuries as symbols of innocence and education. Collectors of neoclassical reproductions and decorative arts particularly value such pieces for their sentimental appeal and the craftsmanship involved in carving the soft alabaster stone.