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Lot Essay
These bronzes formed part of the French Royal Collection from at least 1729, when they appear in the Inventaire Gnrale des Meubles de la Couronne. They continue to appear in subsequent inventories (1741, 1751, 1752, 1765, 1775, 1776, 1788), listed as being in the appartements of several different courtiers at Versailles. They were eventually transferred to the Garde-Meuble in Paris during the Revolution, and in 1796 formed part of the group of objects which were acquired by the Citoyen Chapeaurouge of Hamburg.
Chapeaurouge was one of a number of creditors who loaned money to the new government, and who received, as part payment, objects from the Royal collections. In the case of Chapeaurouge, these included several important tapestries, 145 hardstones, some pieces of arms and armour, and 56 small bronzes (Verlet, loc. cit.).
The original statues on which the present bronzes are based were made for the gardens at Marly, and are now both in the Louvre. The Atalanta is based on Pierre Lepautre's marble of 1704 and Hippomenes after Guillaume Coustou's marble of 1712.
Chapeaurouge was one of a number of creditors who loaned money to the new government, and who received, as part payment, objects from the Royal collections. In the case of Chapeaurouge, these included several important tapestries, 145 hardstones, some pieces of arms and armour, and 56 small bronzes (Verlet, loc. cit.).
The original statues on which the present bronzes are based were made for the gardens at Marly, and are now both in the Louvre. The Atalanta is based on Pierre Lepautre's marble of 1704 and Hippomenes after Guillaume Coustou's marble of 1712.