Carved Oak Figure of St Joseph by Yvonne Parvillée c.1930

Beautiful early 20th.c. carved oak figure of St Joseph by the French modernist sculptor Yvonne Parvillée c.1930. Joseph and the young Christ, who stands raised on a step, both with halos highlighted in gold, embrace in prayer. Carved in a modernist style from a single block of oak, the base named for St Joseph beside carpenter’s tools. Signed Y. Parvillée on the right hand side of the piece. Presented as found in very good original condition.

Parvillée studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in the 1920’s before devoting herself to the modern revival of religious art, converting to Catholicism and exhibiting with various Christian artist groups.  A large stone version of her St Joseph can be found in the remarkable Art Deco interior of Notre-Dame-des-Otages in Paris.