Allegory of Spring (Flora and Zephyr)
Statuette
ca. 1875-1890 (made)
ca. 1875-1890 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This and the related bronze group (V&A mus. no. A.17-1955) represent 'Spring' and 'Summer', each represented through a mythological pair of figures. Spring here is represented through Flora and Zephyr. 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 Spring (Flora and Zephyr) (assigned by artist) |
Materials and techniques | Bronze group on an ormolu stand |
Brief description | Group, bronze, 'Allegory of Spring', attributed to Phillipe Bertrand, France, 18th century or 19th century copies |
Physical description | Zephyrs on the right, proffers a wreath of flowers to Flora, seated left. In front, Cupid plays with a swan. At the back is a basket of flowers on a pedestal, and the ormolu stand is decorated on the front with a lion mask and skin. |
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.17-1955) represent 'Spring' and 'Summer', each represented through a mythological pair of figures. Spring here is represented through Flora and Zephyr. 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.17-1955 (Ensemble) |
Bibliographic reference | Europäische Barockplastik am Niederrhein; Grupello und seine Zeit, Kunstmuseum, Dusseldorf 1971
no. 365 |
Collection | |
Accession number | A.16-1955 |
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Record created | July 1, 2002 |
Record URL |
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