Hercule et Omphale Pays-Bas, XVIIIe siècle, Entourage de Laurent Delvaux (1696-1778)

Omphale vêtue d'une peau de bête, et tenant à la main un bâton, s'appuie sur l'épaule d'Hercule assi; à terre, l'Amour munit de son arc et de son carquois de flèches (les ailes manquantes)

Ancienne collection Freiherr von Stumm, Schloss Holzhausen, Hessen, Allemagne

RÉFÉRENCE BIBLIOGRAPHIQUE
A. Jacobs, Laurent Delvaux. Gand, 1696 - Nivelles, 1778, Paris, 1999, p. 116 (fig. 38), p. 125 (pl. 19), p.382, nos. S 168-9, p. 458-9, S 270-1., p. 483, n°S283.

Good condition overall with surface dirt in the crevisses and a few very minor chips and losses at several places, consistent with age and handling. Cupid's wings and finger tips of left hand missing. A few restored chips to the edges of the rock on which Hercules is seated, a small chip to Omphale's hairband, to Hercule's back and some losses to the instruments in his hand. Very fine terracotta which can be recommended.
"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."

This finely modelled terracotta group can be compared with a number of works by the Flemish sculptor Laurent Delvaux and those working within his circle, such as Peter Scheemakers and Pierre-François Le Roy. The face and body of Hercules find close parallels in Delvaux's renderings of the same subject, such as his terracotta study of Hercules in the V&A (inv. no. A56-1930). Analogous two figure groups within landscape settings appear throughout Delvaux's oeuvre; note, for example his terracotta Maquette du soubassement avec le groupe d'Élie et l'Ange, chaire à prêcher de l'église des Carmes chaussés in the Musée communal d'Archéologie, Nivelles (Jacobs, op. cit. no. S114), in which the Angel likewise grips the seated man's shoulder. Note also the physiognomic similarities between Omphale in the present group and Venus in Pierre-François Le Roy's Venus et Cupidon in the musée de Groesbeeck de Croix, Namur (Jacobs, op. cit. p. 81, fig. 24).