AFTER BARTHÉLEMY PRIEUR (1536-1611), FRENCH, 17TH CENTURY

The two figures, depicting a cavalier with a plumed hat and his lady, form a courtly pair. The two figures were designed to be looking at each other; both with one foot forward, almost indicating a dance, their gestures are answered. The woman turns to the gentleman to give him a fruit.

The figures are now universally accepted by scholars as being by Prieur, and indeed are amongst the most typical and admired of his compositions. Excellent examples are in the Huntingdon Library, San Marino (illustrated in W. Bode, The Italian Bronze Statuettes of the Renaissance, 1907, ed. and rev. J. Draper, New York, 1980, pl. CCXVI, and p. 107) along with those in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, and the Liebighaus, Frankfurt (Berlin, Skulpturensammlung, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Von allen Seiten schön: Bronzen der Renaissance und des Barock, V. Krahn, ed., 31 October, 1995 - 28 January 1996 nos. 144-145).