Cast iron fireback Diana bathing - firebacks

Description

1910 period fireback in cast iron. Set in a cartouche of flowers and foliage, supported by a pair of griffins Diana, daughter of Jupiter and Latona, and twin sister of Apollo is shown in a mythological scene. In Henri Carpentier's book about firebacks "Les Plaques de cheminées" [T.I, Paris, 1967, p.361], a similar fireback is depicted called "Diana's nymph pursued by...?". This scene seems to show Diana bathing surprised by Acteon. Indeed Diane who is easily recognized by her quivers of arrows, sits against a rock partially nude. One of the nymphs is washing her feet while the other gathers fruit from a tree. A sheet hangs for the tree to protect her privacy. In the far left of the composition, a hunter with an ivory horn on his belt, runs out of the forest. He is carved in respect to perspective, which gives a lot of depth and vitality to the scene.
This elaborate composition is served by a remarkable quality of sculpture.