After Gaetano Merchi (1747-1823). A terracotta bust of Medeleine Guimard

After Gaetano Merchi (1747-1823). A terracotta bust of Medeleine Guimard, wearing a tunic with roses and vines in her hair, inscribed 'Merchi 1779', on a turned socle, 27.75in (70.4cm) h. Some restoration. Madeleine Guimard was the illegitimate daughter of an inspector in a Paris cloth factory. At the age of fifteen she became a member of the Corps de Ballet at the Comedie Francais. She made her debut in 1762 and in the following year was designated as premier danseuse noble. Sadly, in her early years, she caught smallpox, which left her face badly scarred, but it did not detract from her attraction for men. Her lovers included the valet de chambre to Louis XV and the Prince de Soubise. He gave her a pension but when his family became short of money she had to give it up. In 1789 she married the choreographer and poet Despreaux and retired to a house above Montmartre where she had a long and happy married life. She was lively, vivacious and an excellent mime and excelled in naive shepherd girl roles which delighted her audiences. She died in 1816.