Falconet’s success as a Rococo sculptor was due largely to his notable patrons, a group who included both Madame de Pompadour and Catherine the Great. Though he typically worked in bronze and marble, Falconet’s appointment as head of the Sèvres porcelain factory in 1757 expanded his repertoire to include soft-paste porcelain figures. This terra-cotta piece, most likely a study for a later work in porcelain, demonstrates Falconet’s ability to communicate fluid movement and intricate details.