Pair of lead putti fountains

Style Louis XIV / Ref.0573

Dimensions:
Width: 32'' ¼ 82cm
Height: 23'' ¼ 59cm

Origin:
From Provence, France, Late 19th century.

Status:
Good general condition. Restorations on both arms and other restorations of small dents.

Pair of garden fountains, used as water basin ornaments. They both represent a mirror image of a girl and a boy, playing on a bed of reeds decorated with shells with an animal. In one case the animal is a swan in the other a large fish, a representation of a dolphin. In one group, the little boy grabs the swan by the wing, and in the other the little girl holds the fish by the fin. Both groups, with a circular design have a rectangular base. The water spouts out of the swans beak and the dolphins mouth.

These two groups are strongly inspired by those found in the park La Granja in Spain, especially the group called « Children with a dog » in front of the castle. Frémin, member of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture designed these lead sculptures. Frémin left France for the court of Philippe V, King of Spain and Grandson of Louis XIV in 1721. Philippe V wanted to create a small Versailles in La Granja. This park and its sculptures quickly became a reference for the whole of Europe. After 1880, the classical French garden was again in style, and the sculptures of the 17th and 18th century were used as models for the garden ornaments. This pair of statues are very similar to Frémin’s creations : a calm subject, full of lightness and joy; youth very beautifully expressed and the same intricate hair styles with waves, curls and small buns. < br /> Sold as a pair.

sold