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Lot Essay
These bronze groups, each representing a complex multi-figure composition, are derived from different sources but have been put together to create a new, and highly decorative, pair. The Abduction of Proserpina by Girardon was originally conceived as a marble as part of a commission of four marble groups by different artists for the first Parterre d'Eau at Versailles (Souchal, 1981, op. cit., p. 42). The Girardon group is dated 1699. The Rape of a Sabine Woman is considered to be Giambologna's greatest achievement in marble. It was commissioned and unveiled in the Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence, on 14 January, 1583 (Avery, op. cit., p. 109).
This pair of bronzes obviously post-dates the Girardon marble of 1699, and in terms of its facture is datable to the early years of the 18th century. A number of examples of this pairing, of differing heights, are listed in various sale catalogues of the 18th and 19th centuries (for precise dates see Souchal, 1993, op. cit., p. 104).
A similar pair of bronzes after Giambologna and Gaspar Marsy, was sold at Sotheby's, London, lot 75, £223,500.
This pair of bronzes obviously post-dates the Girardon marble of 1699, and in terms of its facture is datable to the early years of the 18th century. A number of examples of this pairing, of differing heights, are listed in various sale catalogues of the 18th and 19th centuries (for precise dates see Souchal, 1993, op. cit., p. 104).
A similar pair of bronzes after Giambologna and Gaspar Marsy, was sold at Sotheby's, London, lot 75, £223,500.