Francois Rude was one of the most prominent Romantic period sculptors. He worked on many statues ranging from a relief on L'Arc De Triumph to smaller pieces like the one above. While Rude may not have the same level of talent as someone like Antonio Canova, he did push the boundaries of sculpting at the time. 

Neapolitan Fisher Boy Playing with a Tortoise is a great example of Rude's experimentation. This sculpture was a total departure from the normal and surprised many people. At the time most art critics considered fictional scenes like this one unworthy of a life-size marble sculpture. Rude didn't do what others wanted but instead what he liked. 

The sculpture depicts an Italian boy playing with (and seemingly strangling) a turtle. The boy is happy and carefree. He doesn't wear clothes but his body isn't idealized and made perfect. The focus of the statue isn't so much to tell a story but to convey emotion. In fact, Rude never even traveled to Italy, so the scene is entirely based off what he saw in art and read in stories.