An 18th Century Lead figure of Bacchus
An 18th Century Lead figure of Bacchus
Circa 1740
Stock Number: /GSO
Height
107.00cm
[42.13 inches]
Sold
From the workshop of John Cheere 1709-1787
Bacchus or Dionysus for the Greek - well known as the God of wine and general excess is shown here holding grapes aloft - his hair entwined with vine leaves and naked bar a loose tunic fashioned from a leopard skin - probably an allusion to his great triumphal caravan drawn variously by tigers and leopards
Well cast there is a fine detailing in the hair, facial features, grapes and the leopard tunic, with the skin in contrast being smooth. Another model of the same size is known and a similar figures can still be seen in gardens of the Royal Palace at Queluz - -commissioned by the Portuguese ambassador in London, the Marques de Pombal, for the Infante Dom Pedro, this well documented transaction shows sales to furnish this Mini Versailes with lead sculptures and fountains, which accounted for almost aloof John Cheere's workshop production at the time. It is worth mentioning that as with all period lead figures the iron core used in production often causes damage through rusting to sculptures and so was the case for this figure - it has though been finely conserved with the internal core replaced to preserve this wonderful sculpture for another 250 years
Bacchus or Dionysus for the Greek - well known as the God of wine and general excess is shown here holding grapes aloft - his hair entwined with vine leaves and naked bar a loose tunic fashioned from a leopard skin - probably an allusion to his great triumphal caravan drawn variously by tigers and leopards
Well cast there is a fine detailing in the hair, facial features, grapes and the leopard tunic, with the skin in contrast being smooth. Another model of the same size is known and a similar figures can still be seen in gardens of the Royal Palace at Queluz - -commissioned by the Portuguese ambassador in London, the Marques de Pombal, for the Infante Dom Pedro, this well documented transaction shows sales to furnish this Mini Versailes with lead sculptures and fountains, which accounted for almost aloof John Cheere's workshop production at the time. It is worth mentioning that as with all period lead figures the iron core used in production often causes damage through rusting to sculptures and so was the case for this figure - it has though been finely conserved with the internal core replaced to preserve this wonderful sculpture for another 250 years
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