Une Heure de la Nuit by Joseph Michel Ange Pollet (French, 1814–1870)

Gracefully ascending from the support of a single winged putto, a young celestial woman tilts toward the heavens—her arms raised, her crown of stars gleaming, and her delicate drapery slipping as though surrendering the last ties to the earthly realm. Une Heure de la Nuit ("An Hour of the Night") by Joseph Michel Ange Pollet captures the fleeting, weightless passage of time through a singular poetic form. The sculpture’s daring structure—supported only by one figure at the base—is a masterclass in marble carving, defying gravity and achieving a mystical balance that evokes the illusionary skill of Indian jugglers, as noted by contemporary critic Théophile Gautier. Pollet, born in Sicily to French parents in 1814, was a sculptor of rare ability whose artistic journey took him across Italy, Paris, and Brussels before ultimately settling in France. His multicultural upbringing and artistic travels enriched his sculptural language with a unique blend of classical technique and romantic exp