Ondine

Albert Desenfans (1845-1938)

Nationality : Belgian

Date : circa 1890
Dimensions : 77,5 x 32 x 41 cm
Material : White Carrara marble
Signature : “A.DESENFANS”

Albert Desenfans’ Ondine is a striking marble sculpture dating from around 1890, inspired by the mythological water nymphs known as undines. Unlike mermaids, undines dwell in running waters—rivers, waterfalls, and fountains. Folklore holds that on bright summer days they rest upon stone edges, brushing their hair with golden or ivory combs, guarding hidden treasures in submerged palaces.

Legend also says that fountains flow with undines’ tears when they are offended—hence offerings such as garlands, petals, and glass shards were placed near the water to appease them. Desenfans brings this lore to life through anatomical finesse and poetic grace.

The figure of Ondine is captured in a fluid yet dynamic pose, leaning gently toward the water as though listening to its secrets. Her expression is serene and introspective, her posture both natural and evocative. The delicate treatment of her hair, the soft rotation of her torso, and the interplay between knee, foot, and hand establish a harmonious rhythm throughout the composition.

Desenfans blends classical form with Romantic imagination: the result is a perfect fusion of realism and myth. A bronze version of this same composition also exists, underscoring its importance in his oeuvre. But this marble edition embodies the purity and luminosity of the material, enhancing the nymph’s mystical allure.

Ondine remains a sublime example of late 19th-century sculpture — rich in myth, movement, and sensual form — demonstrating Desenfans’ mastery of both narrative and craftsmanship.