Beschreibung:

An impressive set of four terracotta conservatory groups representing the Seasons
French, 19th century 116cm.; 46ins high by 87cm.; 34ins wide 82cm.; 32ins deep on later wooden stands Although 19th Century in date, the modelling and iconography of the attributes in this impressive set of seasons owe more to the golden age of French sculpture in the late 17th century, especially at Versailles for Louis XIV. The work of Pierre Le Gros, Jean Hardy and Jean Poulletier on the Water Parterre and the Childen~s Island Fountain all include similar figures of children holding attributes. In this lot, each of the four groups are unusually modelled as a right angle, to be viewed in the round with numerous attributes on each group; Spring has a putti with butterfly wings, personifying the awakening of the seasons, crowning a putto with a garland of spring flowers. Surrounding them are a basket of flowers, and gardening implements including a rake and a watering can, similar in style to those produced by the Vincennes porcelain factory in the 1740~s. Summer has a winged cherub, perhaps setting a bird free from the cage and gazing into the sky, with arms outstretched to the sun, perhaps as an allusion to Louis XIV, the Sun King. At the back of the group is a beehive or skep, which prior to the early 20th century were made of straw. Autumn, typically has putti holding grapes with a wine barrel, together with a ewer and cymbals and fruit representing the revelry associated with Bacchus, the god of wine. Winter features one putto shielding a young girl with a cloak, warming her hands over a fire.. The base is strewn with winter ivy and pine cones, whilst at the back is a basket of shrivelled grapes and fruit together with an axe for the chopping of firewood. Much of the terracotta produced in the 19th century was produced in multiples from moulds. In keeping with the 18th century, this unique set of seasons are all completely modelled by hand, with the sculptor~s palette knife still evident in the meticulous attention to detail