Bacchanal of putti
Relief
ca. 1640-1668 (made)
ca. 1640-1668 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This ivory relief representing a bacchanal of putti was made by Gérard van Opstal (1595-1668) in Flanders, in the mid-17th century. This relief shows a frieze of nine putti and one infant satyr playing with two goats; two of the putti are winged. Their windswept hair and plump bodies are typical of the work of Gérard van Opstal, and although this piece is unsigned, it is so close to the documented reliefs by him in the Louvre, two of which are signed, that it must be ascribed to him, and its quality suggests it is likely to be an autograph work.
Gérard van Opstal (ca. 1604 – 1668) was registered as apprentice to the Brussels artist Niklaas Diodone in 1621. He later collaborated with his father-in-law, the sculptor Hans van Mildert (ca. 1588-1638) in Antwerp. At the invitation of Cardinal Richelieu, in about 1642, van Opstal moved to Paris, where he produced archietectural carvings and where he worked under Sarazin on the decorations of the Louvre and the Tuileries, and later on the Hôtel Carnavalet. He specialised in low-relief friezes of mythological subjects, depicting tritons, nereids, and centaurs, for numerous palaces and hotels particuliers in and around Paris. In 1648 he helped found the Academie Royale. He was influenced by Peter Paul Rubens and Francois du Quesnoy.
Gérard van Opstal (ca. 1604 – 1668) was registered as apprentice to the Brussels artist Niklaas Diodone in 1621. He later collaborated with his father-in-law, the sculptor Hans van Mildert (ca. 1588-1638) in Antwerp. At the invitation of Cardinal Richelieu, in about 1642, van Opstal moved to Paris, where he produced archietectural carvings and where he worked under Sarazin on the decorations of the Louvre and the Tuileries, and later on the Hôtel Carnavalet. He specialised in low-relief friezes of mythological subjects, depicting tritons, nereids, and centaurs, for numerous palaces and hotels particuliers in and around Paris. In 1648 he helped found the Academie Royale. He was influenced by Peter Paul Rubens and Francois du Quesnoy.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Bacchanal of putti (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Ivory on later wood backing |
Brief description | Relief, ivory, a Bacchanal of putti, by Gérard van Opstal, French, ca. 1640-1668 |
Physical description | The pierced relief represents a bacchanal of nine putti and one infant satyr playing with two goats; two of the putti are winged. |
Dimensions |
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Object history | Bought for £110 5s. from Dr Hildburgh F.S.A. in 1933, using funds from the Murray bequest. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This ivory relief representing a bacchanal of putti was made by Gérard van Opstal (1595-1668) in Flanders, in the mid-17th century. This relief shows a frieze of nine putti and one infant satyr playing with two goats; two of the putti are winged. Their windswept hair and plump bodies are typical of the work of Gérard van Opstal, and although this piece is unsigned, it is so close to the documented reliefs by him in the Louvre, two of which are signed, that it must be ascribed to him, and its quality suggests it is likely to be an autograph work. Gérard van Opstal (ca. 1604 – 1668) was registered as apprentice to the Brussels artist Niklaas Diodone in 1621. He later collaborated with his father-in-law, the sculptor Hans van Mildert (ca. 1588-1638) in Antwerp. At the invitation of Cardinal Richelieu, in about 1642, van Opstal moved to Paris, where he produced archietectural carvings and where he worked under Sarazin on the decorations of the Louvre and the Tuileries, and later on the Hôtel Carnavalet. He specialised in low-relief friezes of mythological subjects, depicting tritons, nereids, and centaurs, for numerous palaces and hotels particuliers in and around Paris. In 1648 he helped found the Academie Royale. He was influenced by Peter Paul Rubens and Francois du Quesnoy. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.33-1930 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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