Allegory of Summer (Ceres and Triptolemus)
Group
ca. 1875-1890 (made)
ca. 1875-1890 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This and the related bronze group (V&A mus. no. A.16-1955) represent 'Summer' and 'Spring', each represented through a mythological pair of figures. Summer here is represented through Ceres and Triptolemus. Together with 'Autumn' and 'Winter' (in private property) they exactly match the series of four seasons acquired in 1825 for the Royal collection at Windsor.
The bronzes were suspected of being 19th century copies by comparison with the versions at Windsor, to which they are much inferior. Correspondence preserved in the Royal Archive at Windsor Castle shows that in October, 1875 the Queen gave permission for the London founder Henry J. Hatfield to copy the four groups at Windsor for Baron Lionel de Rothschild, and the permission was again given for them to be copied by Hatfield for Baron Albert de Rothschild in 1882.
The bronze and its pair were apparently cast after this Windsor groups. Versions of the groups were described in the sale catalogue of the Gaignat Collection in 1769 as the 'work of Desjardins'. In recent years the groups have been attributed on the basis of their design to Philippe Bertrand (1663-1724).
The bronzes were suspected of being 19th century copies by comparison with the versions at Windsor, to which they are much inferior. Correspondence preserved in the Royal Archive at Windsor Castle shows that in October, 1875 the Queen gave permission for the London founder Henry J. Hatfield to copy the four groups at Windsor for Baron Lionel de Rothschild, and the permission was again given for them to be copied by Hatfield for Baron Albert de Rothschild in 1882.
The bronze and its pair were apparently cast after this Windsor groups. Versions of the groups were described in the sale catalogue of the Gaignat Collection in 1769 as the 'work of Desjardins'. In recent years the groups have been attributed on the basis of their design to Philippe Bertrand (1663-1724).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Allegory of Summer (Ceres and Triptolemus) (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Group, bronze, 'Allegory of Summer', attributed to Philippe Bertrand, 18th century, French |
| Physical description | Triptolemus kneeling on the right, is about to place a sheaf of corn on the chariot of Ceres, who stands on the left. Behind are the two winged dragons which draw the chariot. A putto is seated on the top of the chariot, the back of which is adorned with a relief of the Rape of Proserpine. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1955. Historical significance: The bronzes were suspected of being 19th century copies by comparison with the versions at Windsor, to which they are much inferior. Correspondence preserved in the Royal Archive at Windsor Castle shows that in October, 1975 the Queen gave permission for the London founder Henry J. Hatfield to copy the four groups at Windsor for Baron Lionel de Rothschild, and the permission was again given for them to be copied by Hatfield for Baron Albert de Rothschild in 1882. |
| Production | Probably a cast, after Philippe Bertrand (1663-1724) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This and the related bronze group (V&A mus. no. A.16-1955) represent 'Summer' and 'Spring', each represented through a mythological pair of figures. Summer here is represented through Ceres and Triptolemus. Together with 'Autumn' and 'Winter' (in private property) they exactly match the series of four seasons acquired in 1825 for the Royal collection at Windsor. The bronzes were suspected of being 19th century copies by comparison with the versions at Windsor, to which they are much inferior. Correspondence preserved in the Royal Archive at Windsor Castle shows that in October, 1875 the Queen gave permission for the London founder Henry J. Hatfield to copy the four groups at Windsor for Baron Lionel de Rothschild, and the permission was again given for them to be copied by Hatfield for Baron Albert de Rothschild in 1882. The bronze and its pair were apparently cast after this Windsor groups. Versions of the groups were described in the sale catalogue of the Gaignat Collection in 1769 as the 'work of Desjardins'. In recent years the groups have been attributed on the basis of their design to Philippe Bertrand (1663-1724). |
| Associated object | A.16-1955 (Ensemble) |
| Bibliographic reference | Europäische Barockplastik am Niederrhein; Grupello und seine Zeit, Kunstmuseum, Dusseldorf 1971
no.365 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.17-1955 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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