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Reconstituted stone.  On its surface, three allegorical flowers illustrate the sunflower’s cycle of life and death.  Rich friezes representing foliage; pelmets and rinceaux brighten the Vase.

It rests on a rectangular base.

Reduction of the pair of vases designed by Mansart for the Royal Alley of the Palace of Versailles, which were later sculpted by Slodtz and Marc Arcis in 1687.

Reconstituted stone.

Probably an old cast of the Sevres workshops.

Measures:

Vase: Height: 51 inches; diameter: 37.5 inches.

Pedestal: Height: 43 inches; length: 28.7 inches; depth: 28.7

Total height: 94.4 inches.

Provenance:

  • Cassin family, park of the castle of La Richardière at the edge of the park of the castle of Chanteloup, Amboise.

Authorization to exit the French territory.

Sale by nomination.

Can be seen at Amboise previous appointment at: +33 254 80 24 24.

Bibliography:

Rachel Chenu and Lauranne Stainler, « Les vases dejardins de Versailles à Chanteloup », Rouillac, Tours, 2015.

The Sunflower Vases at Versailles

As the Sun vases, the sixteen marble vases of the Royal Alley of Versailles were conceived in pairs.  Piganol de La Force says in 1701, regarding these objects, that “all these vases were projected and designed by M. Mansart”.  The name of the sculptor in charge of producing the models in three dimensions taking as a reference the details given by the master of the works could have been Girardon, but this is, notwithstanding, not wholly proved by the sources.  Arcis and Slodtz produced admirable bouquets of sunflowers, treated with naturalism and nobility, and reflecting a sunny and prosperous image.  Among these two sculptors, Arcis, member of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture since 1684, was relatively new in the Versailles construction site, where he had collaborated in decorating the small stable of the Great Gallery.  As for Slodtz, a pupil of Girardon, the Royal Alley works were his first intervention in Versailles.


Bibliography

Alexandre Maral, “Le Versailles de Louis XIV, un palais pour la sculpture”, ed. Faton, 2013.  Text: pages 216-219.  Vase reproduced at pages 218 and 273 (details) and on page 279 (on the Alley).   

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