French School, circa 1760-1770

Flora and Zephyr

Auction Closed

May 20, 03:42 PM GMT

Estimate

20,000 - 30,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

Property from a Private Distinguished Collection

French School, circa 1760-1770

Flora and Zephyr

oil on canvas

canvas: 58 ¼ by 50 ¼ in.; 147.9 by 127.6 cm.

framed: 72 ¼ by 54 ¾ in.; 183.5 by 139 cm.

Anonymous Sale, Beaussant & Lefèvre, Paris, 8 December 2006, lot 71;
Anonymous Sale, New York, Christie's, 4 June 2014, lot 53.

The subject of the present lot is an allegory of the seasonal change between winter and spring. Zephyr, the god of the west wind, pursues a forest nymph named Chloris. Once he finally kisses her, flowers fall from her breath and she transforms into Flora, goddess of flowers.¹

1. Ovid, Fasti, V., 193-214.