Young Lord and Young Woman, Barthélemy Prieur, c. 1600 - c. 1611
Alongside all manner of classical and mythological subjects, the French court sculptor Prieur also made a few figurines representing daily life. With this elegant couple he played with the unequal standing of the figures: the dashing, urban lord versus the simple country lass holding a basket and an apple. The electric erotic tension between them can be read from their gestures and attributes – gloves and an apple.