Lot 104
104
FOUR MEISSEN MYTHOLOGICAL FIGURE GROUPS ON STANDS EMBLEMATIC OF THE SEASONS
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FOUR MEISSEN MYTHOLOGICAL FIGURE GROUPS ON STANDS EMBLEMATIC OF THE SEASONS

LATE 19TH CENTURY, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, INCISED 2377, 2378., 2380. AND 2381., VARIOUS IMPRESSED AND PAINTED NUMERALS, AFTER THE MODELS BY J.J. KÄNDLER

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FOUR MEISSEN MYTHOLOGICAL FIGURE GROUPS ON STANDS EMBLEMATIC OF THE SEASONS
LATE 19TH CENTURY, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, INCISED 2377, 2378., 2380. AND 2381., VARIOUS IMPRESSED AND PAINTED NUMERALS, AFTER THE MODELS BY J.J. KÄNDLER
Each with a god and goddess seated upon a bevy of clouds, a medallion between them, including: Venus, Cupid and Mars surrounding a moulded portrait of Hercules, on a base applied with flowering vines, emblematic of Spring; Apollo and Minerva surrounding a view of two courting couples in a harbor, on a base applied with fruiting vines, emblematic of Summer; Bacchus and Diana surrounding a grisaille portrait of classical maiden, a putto with a wreath to the reverse, on a base applied with fruiting grapevine, emblematic of Fall; and Juventas and Saturn surrounding a moulded portrait of Augustus the Strong, on a base applied with ivy, emblematic of Winter
13½ in. (34.2 cm.) high, Spring (4)
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This lot is offered without reserve. No sales tax is due on the purchase price of this lot if it is picked up or delivered in the State of New York.

Lot Essay

It has long been debated what these groups are meant to represent. The bases have obvious ties to the seasons, but the relationship between the gods and the various portraits and scenes between them remain an enigma. For example, the love between Mars and Venus can be seen as an allegory of Beauty and Valour, or the conquest of Strife by Love, but what this has to do with Hercules and Spring remains to be seen. Cf. Adams, op. cit., p. 141, no. 386; L. and Y. Adams, op. cit., p. 78; Berling, op. cit., p. 54, fig. 119 and Walcha, op. cit., pp. 476-7, fig. 79 (for Winter only); anonymous sale, Christie's, London, 4 February 1980, lot 120; anonymous sale, Christie's, Amsterdam, 30 October 2001 (for Spring only); and anonymous sale, Christie's, London, 10 July 2007, lot 177 (for Spring only). It is interesting to note that in the present example the jug held by Bacchus and the covered cup beside him both are marked with blue crossed swords.

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