BY GERARD VAN OPSTAL (1605-1668), MID 17TH CENTURY

In terms of style and composition the present ivories relate closely to the numerous ivory reliefs van Opstal carved in the mid 17th century. With her exaggerated contrapposto the figure of Mother Nature recalls the posture of the Immaculate Virgin in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, while the intricately modelled drapery on Fortune recalls the drapery seen on the figures of the Triumph of Silenus tankard in the Museé du Louvre, Paris. Other features common to almost all of van Opstal's reliefs executed in the mid-17th century are the pierced backgrounds and the sketchy carving of the finer details.