Girl & the Lamb
Charles Raphaël Peyre (1872-1949)
Nationality : French
Date : circa 1920
Dimensions : 36,5 x 67 x 15,5 cm
Material : White Carrara marble
Signature : “Ch.Raphael Peyre”
This exquisitely tender marble sculpture by Charles Raphaël Peyre depicts a kneeling child, nude and serene, offering a gentle kiss to a resting lamb. The scene captures a moment of pure innocence and symbolic unity, evoking tenderness, trust, and a harmonious bond between human and animal. With no dramatic gesture or narrative tension, the composition invites quiet contemplation and emotional resonance.
Anchored in the Art Deco aesthetic, the work emphasizes harmonious balance, stylized simplicity, and the refinement of surfaces. The child’s pose is tranquil and composed; her facial expression radiates sincerity and affection. Every detail is deliberate: from the subtle arch of her back to the tender tilt of her head with her typical Art Deco haircut. The lamb, equally peaceful, lies in repose, its soft fleece meticulously rendered through finely incised texture, creating a pleasing contrast with the smooth marble of the child’s body.
Carved in pristine white Carrara marble, the sculpture demonstrates Peyre’s exceptional technical command. The polished surfaces catch and reflect light, highlighting the gentle curves of the child and the delicate modeling of the lamb. The rectangular and veined green marble base introduces a decorative touch, uniting purity with elegance—an emblem of the interwar period’s stylistic preferences.
Crucially, the motif resonates with the ideals of the 1920s–1930s: purity, grace, and emotional restraint. Its serene atmosphere reflects a collective yearning for harmony in a world recovering from conflict. Additionally, the subject of child and lamb carries spiritual overtones, reinforcing themes of innocence and compassion through aesthetic clarity.
Signed “Ch. Raphaël Peyre,” the work affirms its authenticity and stands as a poignant testament to the sculptor’s refined, sensitive, and timeless vision.
