A fine pair of white marble busts of a Man and Woman depicted as the Greek Lovers Meleager and Atalanta

Epoque: 1600-1800

Origine: Northern Europe

Medium: Marble

Dimension: 88 cm (34⁵/₈ inches)

Literature: Each on a turned stone socle, these attractive and very decorative
marble sculptures were once houses in a niche as evidenced by an iron
ring set into the reverse and by the rough finishing on the reserve of
each head.
They may well represent a pair of portraits commissioned on the
occasion of the sitters' betrothal or marriage. At this time it was a
popular fancy or conceit to have one's portrait sculpted in the guise
of ancient divines such as these lovers Meleager and Atalanta.
Gabriel Grupello 1644-1730 was a pupil of Artus Quellinus the Elder and
worked in several European centres, including Brussels and
Dí¼sseldorf. The facial characteristics of these two busts compare
stylistically to several works by Grupello especially to that of a
full-length figure of Galatea by him in the park of the Palace at
Schwetzingen.
(Kultermann, op.cit., fig.63)