Französische Skulptur

Four ivory statuettes of the seasons. Ivory, full-round carving, Dieppe manufactory (?). (Late 18th century). Standing on ebonized, slightly vaulted and ivory covered base. 19,7 up to 20,6 cm high (with plinth). After a washed pen and ink drawing by Charles Lebrun with the allegories of the Four Seasons (Louvre, Inv. No. 29796). These served as sketches for the comprehensive programme of figures of 1674 (the so-called "grande commande"), which adorns the water parterre in the gardens of Versailles. The sculptures were executed by the sculptors Laurent Magnier, Pierre Hutinot, Thomas Regnaudin and François Giradon. A direct model may have been engravings. Spring comes along with prancing step as a young woman. It is Flora, the goddess of growth and fertility, scattering blossoms from her basket. With gifts of ears of corn and a moon-shaped sickle, Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, represents summer. Bacchus, the drunken god of wine, a youth with hair entwined with vines and a raised tazza, embodies the delights of autumn. Vulcan, the god of fire, who warms his feet at a flaming coal basin, symbolises the hard winter months as a freezing old man. - A few minor brown spots, otherwise in good condition. Provenance: Antiquités Iermanno, Naples, with label on underside of base (1); private property, southern Germany. Taxation: Differentially taxed (VAT: Margin Scheme).