Young Girl with Goat

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Marcel Courbier, the French sculptor and medalist, crafted this striking bronze sculpture, expertly cast by F. Barbedienne in Paris as indicated on the base. The artwork originally graced the French pavilion at the 1930 World Exhibition in Antwerp, a testament to architect Joseph-Charles de Montarnal's inspired design. The captivating 'Girl with Goat' was showcased alongside a breathtaking fountain created by René Lalique within the Salon d'honneur. Following the close of the World Exhibition, the city of Paris generously donated this artwork to Antwerp, where it eventually found its current home in 1932. This intricate sculpture group vividly depicts a young nude female, kneeling with a cornhob in her right hand as she entices a goat. Both figures are meticulously rendered in life-size and realistic detail, adhering to the traditional standards of academic art. This piece marks an early work by Marcel Courbier, a talented sculptor known for his contributions to memorials honoring the Resistance. The subject of this artwork is Marcelle Battu, a 17-year-old girl who suffered a grave injustice in 1944 when she was sentenced to death for bearing a child with a German national during the Nazi occupation without receiving a fair trial. This bronze sculpture is actually a replica of the original work. Following vandalism in both 1942 and 1944, it disappeared from public view, only to resurface once more.