Susanna surprised in her bath

The Bible tells the story of Susanna, who was spied on by two old men in her bath. She refused their indecent proposals, only to be accused by them of adultery. The prophet Daniel intervened and proved her innocence.Beauvallet borrows the frontal pose and sensual treatment of the nude body from Psyche Abandoned by his teacher Pajou. The position of the head and refined hairstyle, however, are taken from the Venus Italica by the Italian sculptor Canova.