Lot 68
  • 68

Prosper d' Epinay

Estimate
50,000 - 70,000 GBP
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Description

  • Prosper d' Epinay
  • Les Trois Heures de la Vie (The Three Hours of Life)
  • signed: P. D'EPINAY. ROME
  • white marble

Condition

Overall the condition of the marble is very good, with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are a few minor, well-concealed areas of restoration and reattachment, including to the central woman's proper left wrist, and to the left woman's proper right fingers and proper right big toe. There are a few small naturally occurring inclusions, some with slightly discoloured fill, including to the central and left woman's chests, the central woman's proper right foot, the right woman's face and proper right leg, and to the decorative band on the base. There are also some minor spots of yellowish residue to the base. There are a few minor chips, in particular to the bottom edge.
"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."

Catalogue Note

The Mauritian sculptor Prosper d'Epinay began his sculptural studies unconventionally, under the tutelage of the caricaturist Jean-Pierre Dantan in Paris. He moved to Rome in 1861 to join the studio of Luigi Amici. His work was very popular in England where he exhibited at the Royal Academy for many years, and his aristocratic following included Queen Victoria. 

Based on a full-scale chimneypiece, measuring 217 centimeters high, the present group of Les Trois Heures de la Vie is a supremely elegant allegory for the three hours of the day, which serve as allegories for the three stages of life: youth, maturity, and old age. While Morning and Dusk are represented as languid, reclining nudes, the dynamic Midday stands holding a lit torch, her dress billowing. Most known versions of the Trois Heures were created around the year 1882, and usually mounted as a clock. The present group, however, shows a roundel with the face of Mercury, or Hermes, where a clock is usually placed. The face of Mercury in the present context is highly appropriate, as he was not only the messenger of the Gods, but was also thought to be responsible for conducting souls to the underworld. With its exquisite drapery and beautiful details, the present group is representative of Prosper d'Epinay's oeuvre. 

RELATED LITERATURE
P. Roux-Foujols, Prosper d'Épinay: Un sculpteur mauricien à la cour des princes, Ile Maurice, 1996, pp. 98-9