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Relief

Relief

  • Place of origin:

    France (made)

  • Date:

    late 18th century (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown

  • Museum number:

    A.61-1930

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

This relief in terracotta representing an allegory was probably made in the late 18th century France. This relief is said to be the sketch for a monument intended to commemorate the joining of the Atlantic with the Mediterranean by means of the canal de Languedoc (or Midi) 1666-1688, linking up the Gironde and Garonne. The engineer Paul Riquet is suggested as the subject of the second portrait relief.

The sketch would seem to be intended for the base of a fountain or monument commemorating some such incident as that put forward. As yet, however, no corroborative evidence has been obtained nor has the signature at the back been identified.

Physical description

Relief in terracotta, an allegory. In the middle, a Capstan (?) formed of 3 cannon standing vertically, bound with ribbons, bands of chain and hung with swags and a portrait relief (Louis XIV?); before this stands a naked allegorical figure, resting his hands on the shoulders of two River Gods who join hands looking towards each other. Each god is seated on a jar from which a river flows, behind that on the left is a figure leaning over a cask, behind the river god to the right, who holds a second portrait relief and rests his foot upon an hour glass, is a trophy of designer's instruments. In the background to the right and left two ships. At the top a moulding; above the cannon a baroque shield with leaves and a coronet surmounting a sphere bearing a cross.

Place of Origin

France (made)

Date

late 18th century (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Marks and inscriptions

"NOULET"

Dimensions

Height: 38 cm, Width: 39.5 cm

Descriptive line

Relief, allegorical sketch model; Terracotta French late 18th century.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Victoria and Albert Museum, Review of the Principal Acquisitions During the Year 1930. London.

Materials

Terracotta

Subjects depicted

Capstan; Shield; Ships; Hour glass; Coronet; Cannon; River god

Categories

Reliefs

Collection

Sculpture Collection

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