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

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.

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.

A.61-1930