Ceres
Figure
Early 18th century (made)
Early 18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This oak figure of Ceres - the goddess of Agriculture - stands on a base in the form of a fountain, which represents the head of a river-god. This statue was originally purchased at a sale by Sir Henry Wellcome as a figure representing Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. This suggestion is plausible given her patronage of the arts and resemblance between the statue and contemporary portraits.
It has recently been suggested that Laurent Delvaux could be the sculptor of this piece as similar motifs of a radiating sun appear within other examples of his work.
Delvaux (1696-1778) was trained in Antwerp under Pieter-Denis Plumier, with whom he was later to work in London alongside Peter Scheemakers on the monument of John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham in Westminster Abbey. Delvaux and Schneemakers went into partnership and executed monuments and some garden figures. In 1728 they lefty London for Rome where he remained until 1732, before returning to the Netherlands. While in Rome he executed a number of commissions for Italian and British patrons including John Russell 4th Duke of Bedford, who commissioned a number of works inspired by antique sculpture. He was appointed court sculptor in Brussels in 1733, and in 1734 settled in Nivelles where his workshop produced many religious works, including the monumental pulpit at St Bavo, Ghent. After 1750 he was employed by Charles of Lorraine (1712-1780), Governor of the Netherlands, to produce decorative work for his residences in Brussels, Tervuren and Mariemont.
It has recently been suggested that Laurent Delvaux could be the sculptor of this piece as similar motifs of a radiating sun appear within other examples of his work.
Delvaux (1696-1778) was trained in Antwerp under Pieter-Denis Plumier, with whom he was later to work in London alongside Peter Scheemakers on the monument of John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham in Westminster Abbey. Delvaux and Schneemakers went into partnership and executed monuments and some garden figures. In 1728 they lefty London for Rome where he remained until 1732, before returning to the Netherlands. While in Rome he executed a number of commissions for Italian and British patrons including John Russell 4th Duke of Bedford, who commissioned a number of works inspired by antique sculpture. He was appointed court sculptor in Brussels in 1733, and in 1734 settled in Nivelles where his workshop produced many religious works, including the monumental pulpit at St Bavo, Ghent. After 1750 he was employed by Charles of Lorraine (1712-1780), Governor of the Netherlands, to produce decorative work for his residences in Brussels, Tervuren and Mariemont.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Ceres (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Oak figure made of several pieces, with the back hollowed out and wood slabs nailed over the opening. |
| Brief description | Oak statue of Ceres, early 18th century, English/Flemish |
| Physical description | Standing figure of Ceres holding a garland, with a floating mantle attatched to her shoulders. The base is a carved plinth in the form of a mountain, and shows the head of a river god. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | Possibly by Laurent Delvaux (1696-1778)
Ceres
About 1720
As the goddess of Agriculture, this figure wears a headdress of flowers and wheat, and hold a similar garland. Its base is almost certainly copied from a marble fountain. The figure would originally have decorated a great house, possibly as part of a series of Roman Deities. Delvaux worked for aristocratic patrons in Britain as well as the Southern Netherlands, so it is difficult to be certain where this sculpture was made,(Nov.2010) |
| Credit line | Given by Dr W.L.Hildburgh, F.S.A. |
| Object history | Said to have been bought privately at an unknown date for a small sum by Sir Henry Salomon Wellcome (1853-1936) as Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (1650-1744). Included in the Wellcome sale (no. 5), held by Harrods for Allsop & Co, on 14 March 1938, lot.108, where it was bought by 'Johnson' for 5£. Sold with the contents of 'The Museum', Finchingfield, Essex (the estate of Mr H.F. Ellis) on 10 June 1941, lot 424, on behalf of Mr Bowles, 96 Abbot Road, Poplar, where it was described Queen Anne by Grinling Gibbons. The figure was purchased from this sale by D. W.L. Hildburgh F.S.A for £21, and subsequently given to the Museum. Historical significance: This figure is attributed to Laurent Delvaux who worked for aristocartic patrons in Britain as well as the Southern Netherlands. |
| Historical context | The figure would originally have decorated a great house, possibly as part of a series of Roman deities. |
| Production | Maker was a follower of Grinling Gibbons |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This oak figure of Ceres - the goddess of Agriculture - stands on a base in the form of a fountain, which represents the head of a river-god. This statue was originally purchased at a sale by Sir Henry Wellcome as a figure representing Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. This suggestion is plausible given her patronage of the arts and resemblance between the statue and contemporary portraits. It has recently been suggested that Laurent Delvaux could be the sculptor of this piece as similar motifs of a radiating sun appear within other examples of his work. Delvaux (1696-1778) was trained in Antwerp under Pieter-Denis Plumier, with whom he was later to work in London alongside Peter Scheemakers on the monument of John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham in Westminster Abbey. Delvaux and Schneemakers went into partnership and executed monuments and some garden figures. In 1728 they lefty London for Rome where he remained until 1732, before returning to the Netherlands. While in Rome he executed a number of commissions for Italian and British patrons including John Russell 4th Duke of Bedford, who commissioned a number of works inspired by antique sculpture. He was appointed court sculptor in Brussels in 1733, and in 1734 settled in Nivelles where his workshop produced many religious works, including the monumental pulpit at St Bavo, Ghent. After 1750 he was employed by Charles of Lorraine (1712-1780), Governor of the Netherlands, to produce decorative work for his residences in Brussels, Tervuren and Mariemont. |
| Bibliographic reference | Bilbey, Diane with Trusted, Marjorie.British Sculptyre 1470 to 2000. A Concise Catalogue of the Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, 2002, p.74-5, cat. no. 100. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.24-1941 |
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| Record created | June 20, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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