An Exquisite Superbly Cast Bronze on an Ormolu Pierced Scroll and Rockwork Base.
Signed and dated 1883 on the base.

Condition: Superb untouched condition, wonderful patination. 

Height: 26.5" (67.5cm).  Width: (at base) 11" (28cm). Depth: (at base) 11" (28cm). 

Item Sold

Shipped to Manhasset, New York, USA 

Provenance: James Adam's Auctioneers Dublin Ireland.

Country House Collections Sale held at Slane Castle, Co. Meath, Ireland. October 5th 2010.

Francois Giradon's great bronze group "L'Enlevement de Proserpine" was cast for the garden at Versailles 1694-1699. Much influenced by Giambologna, reductions remained popular. In the 19th Century the bronze founder, Henry Dasson, bought a remarkable quality to the casting.
"The Rape of Proserpine" is an allegory for one of the basic earth myths, the cycle of the sowing and harvesting of corn, fertility of the earth, and the seasons. Daughter of Zeus by his sister Demeter, the beautiful goddess was abducted by Hades and taken to the underworld. Demeter (Ceres) persuaded Zeus to allow Proserpine to emerge from the earth for six months of the year thus allowing the seed corn and agriculture in general to flourish.