CIRCLE OF CORNEILLE VAN CLÈVE (1646-1732), FIRST HALF 18TH CENTURY

Details

A BRONZE GROUP OF VENUS AND CUPID
Circle of Corneille van Clève (1646-1732), first half 18th century
Depicting Venus seated on a rock looking over the infant Cupid who reaches up to his mother with one hand and takes hold of one of two billing birds with the other; on an integrally cast naturalistic base; with a small paper label to the reverse inscribed '575'.
Warm brown patina with lighter high points.
12½ in. (31.8 cm.) high

Literature

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
New York, Knoedler and Co., The French Bronze 1500 to 1800, 1968, nos. 43A and B.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

In its subject matter, the physiognomies and the frontal nature of the composition, this group is related to two pendant bronze groups of Venus Disarming Cupid and Psyche Discovering Cupid which are known in numerous examples. One pair of these was included in the exhibition of French bronzes at Knoedler and Co. (loc. cit.) where they were described as 'attributed to Corneille van Cleve'. Although this attribution remains controversial, the present delicately executed bronze is certainly influenced by his work. Van Cleve, who trained under Michel Anguier as well as spending time in Rome and Venice, had a hugely successful career, and worked extensively for Louis XIV at Versailles, as well as for private clients.

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