Painted Plaster Plaque of François-Rupert Carabin’s ‘Allegory of Wine’

This painted plaster plaque, titled “Allegory of Wine,” was created by French Art Nouveau artist François-Rupert Carabin, who worked across many mediums. The plaque, which is painted brown, features two nude women in bas-relief, one seated with her arms extended, the other standing in profile and coyly holding a dish of fruit. The delicate interaction of the two women celebrates the female form and feminine sensuality. Freed from the constraints of corsets and fashion, Art Nouveau sculpture frequently explored the female nude and imbued her with a new mystique.