The Rysbrack Statuettes of Rubens, van Dyck and du Quesnoy, Part 22, The West Wycombe Plaster Statuettes of Rubens and van Dyck.

A  Pair of Plaster Statuettes of Rubens and van Dyck

After the original Terracottas by Michael Rysbrack.

at West Wycombe Park.

 

 

Plaster statuette of van Dyck - signed and dated Mich Rysbrack 1743.

Paired with a statuette of Rubens.

 

I am extremely grateful to Sir Edward Dashwood and to his staff for allowing me to visit West Wycombe Park and to photograph the sculptures.

 

 

Detail of the foot showing the fine detail of the brocade draped over the column.

 

 

 

A rear view of the plaster statuette of van Dyck - this pair are the only examples with open backs - perhaps suggesting that they were adapted for a particular position.

 

Even the most ordered households occasionally have accidents - this photograph clearly shows the damage to the left arm which is broken in two places and the hand has lost its fingers - It shows how delicate these figures are and therefore such rare survivals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Detail of the lace collar with florettes which is very close to the Greene Grisailles but differs markedly from the Bristol terracotta

 

 

 

 

Detail of the Rysbrack signature and date on the right side of the supporting column.

 

So far this statuette and the West Wycombe Rubens are the only known plasters of these figures signed inscriptions by Rysbrack.

 

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The Greene Grisailles of Rysbrack's Terracotta Statuette of van Dyck.

note detail of the lace collar.

 signed W. Greene Jnr. Pinxit. 1747.

each - 710 x 438 mm.

Current location unknown.

 

For more on the Greene Grisailles see my blog post -

 

http://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/the-rysbrack-statuettes-of-rubens-van.html

 

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Peter Paul Rubens.

Plaster Statuette paired with a statuette of van Dyck.

Height 24"

Signature missing.

 

West Wycombe Park.

 

I am extremely grateful to Sir Edward Dashwood and to his staff for allowing me to visit West Wycombe Park and to photograph the sculptures.

 

 

 

There is extensive damage and repaint on the left side of the supporting column where the signature would have been. His left foot has become detached. The back is open as is the West Wycombe van Dyck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Greene Grisailles of Rysbrack's Terracotta Statuette of Rubens.

Note again detail of the lace collar.

 signed W. Greene Jnr. Pinxit. 1747.

each - 710 x 438 mm.

Current location unknown.

 

For more on the Greene Grisailles see my blog post -

 

http://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/the-rysbrack-statuettes-of-rubens-van.html