French sculptor. He studied at the École des Beaux Arts under Jouffroy and Falguière, going on to spend five years working in the studio of Mercié. Rivière was one of the leading Orientalist sculptors. He not only drew on literary texts but travelled extensively in North Africa, the Far East and South America. For a time he lived in Carthage, where he completed his two Orientalist groups based on Flaubert’s novel, Salammbô, published in 1862.
The subject of this work was taken from Gustave Flaubert’s novel, Salammb�, published in 1862. The story takes place between 241–238 BC, during the war between Carthage and its mercenaries in revolt. The Libyan Math�, the chief of the barbarian soldiers, fell in love with Salammb�, the daughter of his Carthaginian enemy Hamilcar Barca. Rivi�re has chosen the moment when, mortally wounded by the people, Math� dies at the feet of his idol crying: “I love you! I love you!” The figure of Salammb�, the femme fatale, inspired many other Symbolist artists.
This group is modelled as Salammb� standing wearing a pointed head-dress, her flowing robe with jewelled clasps, Matth� kneeling with his right leg outstretched, embracing her passionately, on a mound base.
The subject is taken from Gustave Flaubert’s exotic historical novel, Salammb�, published in 1862. It represents the Carthaginian priestess Salammb� retrieving her city’s sacred veil, the Zaimph, from her enemy Math�, who is consumed with desire for her.
This is a cast of Rivi�re’s celebrated model, with waxy detailing. There is a bronze and ivory version in the Mus�e d’Orsay, Paris.
