"Pair Of Bronze Plaquettes Depicting The Seasons - France, 17th Century"
A pair of bronze plaquettes, one representing Autumn and Winter, the other Spring and Summer.
France, early 17th century.
Beautiful period lost-wax bronze casting.
Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.9 cm each.
These fine plaquettes are held in numerous museums, where they are presented as French, Flemish, or even Italian. The French attribution, however, seems the most plausible and widely accepted.
While many museums hold only one or the other, it is fortunate to find them here as a true pair (cast together and with the same patina).
An interesting detail: the starting points of the three casting sprues are visible along the upper edge on the reverse of each plaquette.
Bibliography:
Ingrid Weber, Deutsche, Niederländische und Französische Renaissance-plaketten, 1975, cat. nos. 736 and 737 (see photos).
Le Magazine de PROANTIC
TRÉSORS Magazine
Rivista Artiquariato