France, Paris, vers 1730 Venus désarmant l'Amour

Collection privée française.

G. Bresc-Bautier, G. Scherf, Bronzes français de la Renaissance au Siècle des Lumières, cat. exp. musée du Louvre, Paris, 2009, pp. 398-399, n° 107; R. Wenley, French Bronzes in the Wallace Collection, Londres, 2002, pp. 68-69, n° S194.

Very good condition overall. Very crisp cast precise in all details with minor surface dirt in the crevices and a few minor scratches consistente with age and handling. Venus' proper left forearm and Cupid have been cast separately with a joint slightly visible. The two doves have been cast separately as well. Small casting plugs visible at few places. Minor wear to the patina especially to Venus' proper right leg and proper left arm and shoulder. Fine chiselling and hammering all over the surface, especially to Venus' hair and tiara.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Ce bronze de Vénus désarmant l'Amour séduit par la qualité de sa fonte et la complexité de la composition. Un bronze identique appartient à la collection de la reine d'Angleterre, un autre, exposé en 1867 au Palais du Trianon à Paris, est conservé à la Wallace Collection (inv. n° S194). Dès 1757, le sujet est mentionné dans le catalogue de vente du bronzier Cressent comme 'Vénus qui considère l'Amour, dans son char sur un rocher'. Un exemplaire de ce bronze figure dans la vente de La Haye, du 1er décembre 1778, n° 82; un autre dans la vente Dubois, du 20 décembre 1785, n° 152, décrit comme: 'Vénus assise dans son char, tenant sur ses genoux l'Amour, à qui elle enlève son arc, avec deux colombes 19 pouces'.
Dans le catalogue de l’exposition de 2012, G. Bresc-Bautier et G. Scherf rapprochent cette composition du bronze légèrement antérieur des Saisons, par Philippe Bertrand (1730-1811), conservé à Windsor (op. cit., cat. 108-109). Une version de Vénus désarmant l’Amour se trouve dans la collection de S. M. la reine Elizabeth II; trois autres dans des musées dont un à la Wallace Collection.


This bronze of Venus Disarming Love is noteworthy for the quality of its cast and the complexity of the composition. A bronze cast of the same model belongs to the Royal Collection. Another was exhibited at the Palais du Trianon, in Paris, in 1867, and is now in the Wallace Collection (inv. No. S194). As early as 1757, this subject is mentioned in the sale of the well-known French bronze maker Cressent, described as 'Vénus qui considère l'Amour, dans son char sur un rocher'. Another cast of the same model was in the La Haye sale, 1st December 1778, lot 82 and another was in the Dubois sale, 20th December 1785, lot 152, described as, 'Vénus assise dans son char, tenant sur ses genoux l'Amour, à qui elle enlève son arc, avec deux colombes 19 pouces'. In the catalogue of the 2012 exhibition, G. Bresc-Bautier and G. Scherf draw a comparison with a slightly earlier bronze of the Seasons, by Philippe Bertrand (1730-1811), now at Windsor (op. cit., cat. Nos108-109). Apart from those in the Royal Collection and the Wallace Collection, two other casts of Venus Disarming Love are in currently museums.