Fireplace Plate Mythological Scene Of Theophane And Poseidon (120x90 Cm)

Important and exceptional Louis XV fireplace plate, in perfect condition, representing the mythological scene of Theophany and Poseidon.

On a seabed dotted with shells, a hermit crab, a turtle and corals, Poseidon turned into a ram, straddled and held by two loves bearing its attributes, seduces the beautiful Theophanee. A play of volutes, in curve and against curve, decorated with acanthus borders the painting.
"Theophanee, daughter of Bisaltès, was sought after by many suitors for her great beauty. To spare her from their attendance, Poseidon carried the girl, whom he loved, to the island of Crinissa. The suitors having followed her, the god changed Theophanea into sheep, the inhabitants of the island into sheep and himself took the form of a ram. Theophany gave birth to the famous ram with the golden fleece."
A fairly similar representation decorates a earthenware basin of Moustiers, realized by the Clérissy factory, between 1735 and 1740, named "neptune en mouton". (see our penultimate photo)

Melted after 1747 at the Bayard ironworks, in operation since 1513 in Haute Marne, by the ironmaster Pierre Clément Grignon (1724-1784) whose coat of arms adorns the lower middle part of his arms: azure, with three golden torches lit with mouths, that of the middle supported by a silver crescent and surmounted by a gold star.
Pierre Clément Grignon settled in Champagne was Ironmaster from 1747 to 1777, antiquarian and archaeologist recognized and commissioned by King Louis XV to direct the excavations of the Châtelet de Gourzon and Joinville, "the only great excavation of the eighteenth century in France". His work on the improvement of forged processes such as those on physics and chemistry related to metals gave him the title of correspondent of the Royal Academy of Sciences in 1768. Ennobled in 1775.
Our last photo, an engraving by Pierre Clément Grignon and his coat of arms, is wrapped in the Saint Michel necklace.

Source:
- Grand armorial de France,Henri Jougla de Morenas, 1938, tome 4, page 225.
- Mémoire de physique sur l'art de fabriquer le fer, d'en fondre et forger des cannons d'artillerie, sur l'histoire naturelle et ... Pierre Clément Grignon, 1775, Paris.

Its weight is 192 kg.
Thanks to Christine Chazeau for her research and her pugnacity.
You can visit our site: www.claudeaugustin.com