BRONZE GROUP "BOREAS ABDUCTING ORITHYA" AFTER LOUIS-SIMON BOIZOT (1743-1809)

A bronze sculpture with an olive-green patina depicting the Abduction of Orithyia by Boreas. In Greek mythology, Orithyia is an Athenian princess. She is abducted by Boreas, the North Wind, while she was dancing on the banks of the Ilissos River, which flows through Athens. In 1786, Louis-Simon Boizot (1743-1809) created the terracotta model of the Abduction of Orithyia by Boreas for the Sèvres porcelain factory; this was intended as a pendant to Pluto Abducting Proserpine. Boizot drew inspiration from a marble sculpture by Gaspard Marsy and Anselme Flamen for the former, and from a marble sculpture by Girardon for the latter. The two groups were immensely successful and were quickly reproduced in bronze by Boizot in collaboration with the finest bronze sculptors of the time, such as Pierre Gouthière (1732-1813), Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843), and François Rémond (1747-1812). Similar groups are now on display at the Wallace Collection in London and the Petit Palais Museum in Paris. French School, late 19th century. Good condition. 19th century, circa 1880. Dimensions: W: 25cm, D: 21cm, H: 54cm.