Title
Four Allegorical Figures Representing the Four Seasons
Creator
Date
c. 1900
Description
Four Allegorical Figures Representing the Four Seasons (Italian, c. 1900) made of white marble and attributed to Olivotti & Co., Florence. Each statue is raised on a large circular green and white marble fluted columnar base. Original to The Elms these statues are installed in the four corners of the Conservatory.
.1a-b= Representing "Spring" and correlating to the goddess "Flora" this sculpture depicts a standing draped female on a circular base; she wears a single rose in her hair as her left hand holds a basket of flowers and the right grasps her dress.
.2a-b= Representing "Autumn" and correlating to the god "Bacchus" this sculpture depicts a standing male youth on a circular base; he has a grape vine wreath around his head, his right hand holds a bunch of grapes while his arm rests on his head, his left arm rests to his side against a tree trunk while his left hand holds a branch.
.3a-b= Representing "Winter" and correlating to the god "Vulcan" this sculpture depicts a standing bearded man on a circular base; he is shrouded by a lion skin which he holds close to his body, an urn beside his left foot has a burning flame exposed.
.4a-b= Representing "Summer" and correlating to the goddess "Ceres" this sculpture depicts a standing draped female on a circular base; she wears a floral wreath around her head, her left hand holds a sheaf of wheat while the right holds a sickle.
These sculptures appear to be based after similar allegorical works by the French baroque sculptor Robert Le Lorrain (1666-1743) installed on the exterior of the Hôtel de Soubise and late 17th sculptures attributed to Pierre Legros the Elder (French, 1629-1714) from the Chateau de Saint-Cloud, now in the collection of the Louvre.
.1a-b= Representing "Spring" and correlating to the goddess "Flora" this sculpture depicts a standing draped female on a circular base; she wears a single rose in her hair as her left hand holds a basket of flowers and the right grasps her dress.
.2a-b= Representing "Autumn" and correlating to the god "Bacchus" this sculpture depicts a standing male youth on a circular base; he has a grape vine wreath around his head, his right hand holds a bunch of grapes while his arm rests on his head, his left arm rests to his side against a tree trunk while his left hand holds a branch.
.3a-b= Representing "Winter" and correlating to the god "Vulcan" this sculpture depicts a standing bearded man on a circular base; he is shrouded by a lion skin which he holds close to his body, an urn beside his left foot has a burning flame exposed.
.4a-b= Representing "Summer" and correlating to the goddess "Ceres" this sculpture depicts a standing draped female on a circular base; she wears a floral wreath around her head, her left hand holds a sheaf of wheat while the right holds a sickle.
These sculptures appear to be based after similar allegorical works by the French baroque sculptor Robert Le Lorrain (1666-1743) installed on the exterior of the Hôtel de Soubise and late 17th sculptures attributed to Pierre Legros the Elder (French, 1629-1714) from the Chateau de Saint-Cloud, now in the collection of the Louvre.
Cultural Origin
French
Medium
marble
Extent
93" x 68"
Collection
Source
Purchased by The Preservation Society of Newport County, 1962.
Identifier
PSNC.2644.1a-b - .4a-b
For more information about this item, please contact its owning institution.