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Pedestal for Figure Group of Pygmalion and Galatea
Made at: Sèvres Manufactory (France)
Gilder: Etienne-Henri Le Guay aîné, père (French (active at Sèvres 1742–43, 1748–49, 1751–96), 1719–1799)
After: Etienne-Maurice Falconet (French (Paris), 1716–1791)
Gilder: Etienne-Henri Le Guay aîné, père (French (active at Sèvres 1742–43, 1748–49, 1751–96), 1719–1799)
After: Etienne-Maurice Falconet (French (Paris), 1716–1791)
French
about 1780-85
Medium/Technique
Hard-paste porcelain decorated with enamel and gold
Dimensions
Overall: 115.1 x 68.8 x 55.4cm (45 5/16 x 27 1/16 x 21 13/16in.)
Other (figure group): 21.1 x 21.8 x 35.6cm (8 5/16 x 8 9/16 x 14in.)
Other (pedestal): 9.7 cm (3 13/16 in.)
Other (figure group): 21.1 x 21.8 x 35.6cm (8 5/16 x 8 9/16 x 14in.)
Other (pedestal): 9.7 cm (3 13/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Forsyth Wickes—The Forsyth Wickes Collection
Accession Number65.1812
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
DescriptionPedestal for Figure Group, after Flaconet, consists of Pygmalion on knees at base of nude Galatea looking down at him. Infant kissing her right hand, Cupid with tool in hand smiles from the rear. Base has gilt trim and two oblong panels on sides, front panel with the following wording: "Si Pygamalion La Forma; Si Le Ciel Anima Son Etre; L'Amour fit Plus, Il L'Englamma; Sans Lui Que Serviroit De Naitre". Group has fire crack in base, a crack in left arm above elbow, better part of thumb of right hand missing. Base decorated by Le Guay. A similar plaque on the back is decorated with a frieze of scrolling leaf garlands and a central beaded oval enclosing a stylized leaf medallion in gold.
Marks
On base of figure group, an incised "B" for Jean-Jacques Bachelier; an incised "i" or slash to the right of the "B". On interior of pedestal, interlaced Ls, gilder's mark of LG for Etienne-Henry Le Guay aîné, père (active at Sèvres 1742-43, 1748-49, 1751-96) below, both in gold.
Provenance1953, Armand Wittekind, Geneva; January 6, 1953, sold by Wittekind to Rosenberg and Stiebel, New York; January 6, 1953, sold by Rosenberg and Stiebel to Forsyth Wickes (b. 1879 - d. 1964), New York and Newport, RI; 1965, bequest of Forsyth Wickes to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 24, 1965)