French Limestone Four Seasons Statues with Plinths c. Late 17th/Early 18th Century

A set of four rare and breathtaking large French limestone statues depicting the 'Four Seasons' c. Late 17th/Early 18th Century.

This breathtaking set of statues upon carved plinths are individually skilfully hand-carved from solid limestone.

They depict a classical rendition 'Four Seasons', their jubilant faces, limbs and robes baroque in style and feeling:
-'Spring' clasps a small bouquet of spring flowers, while holding in her other hand a basket full of blooms, with a lamb nestled at her feet.
-'Summer' is surrounded by birds, in her elegantly carved fingers she displays a nest with a mother feeding two hungry chicks, at her feet stands another beautiful and grand bird.
-'Autumn' clutches handfuls of abundant fruits, while in his other hand he holds an overflowing cornucopia bursting with grapes and autumnal fruits symbolic of the harvest.
-'Winter' holds a hunting dog puppy in his hands, a partridge at his feet and a Bee Skep behind him representing the honey gathered at the end of the year to sustain the cold, dark winter months.

The surface of the putti figures is wonderfully worn with age, with delicate lichens, but the carving remains sharp and truly enthralling.

 

With historical repairs. Sizes are maximum of each individual figure with plinths.