The Three Graces (Grisaille Paintings of Classical Statuary: a set of eight reproductions of celebrated antiques with the addition of niches, pedestals, classical masonry, trees, etc.)
Louis Gabriel Blanchet (1705 - 1772)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1765
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
572 x 667 mm (22 1/2 x 26 1/4 in)
Order this imageCollection
Saltram, Devon
NT 872542
Caption
The statue group of the Three Graces, Euphrosyne, Aglaia and Thalia, who were said to represent beauty, charm and joy were found in the Villa Cornovaglia in Rome and restored in 1609. They are now in the Louvre, Paris. This is one of a set of eight paintings of celebrated classical antique marble statues from ancient Greek statuary, painted in grisaille (grey-green monochrome colour) by Louis-Gabriel Blanchet in 1765 with the addition of niches, pedestals and trees. The set was probably commissioned as souvenirs, by John Parker, MP (1734/5 – 1788) during his Grand Tour of Italy, with his first wife, in 1764, and may have occupied a garden building at Saltram.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Three Graces (Grisaille Paintings of Classical Statuary: a set of eight reproductions of celebrated antiques with the addition of niches, pedestals, classical masonry, trees, etc.) by Louis Gabriel Blanchet (1705-1772) - One of a set of eight paintings of classical statuary, Grisaille, signed and dated by Louise-Gabriel Blanchet,1765. All are framed in 18th century moulded and white painted frames, but of various dimensions. Reproductions of celebrated Antiques with the addition of niches, pedestals, classical masonry, trees etc.
Provenance
History not known, but from their date probably commissioned by John Parker, later Lord Boringdon, on his Grand Tour; then, from the absence of any reference to them in catalogues or inventories and their plain white frames, probably set into the walls of some garden building; Given to the National Trust as part of the endowment by Montagu Brownlow Parker, 5th Earl of Morley (1878-1962)
Credit line
Saltram, The Morley Collection (The National Trust)
Makers and roles
Louis Gabriel Blanchet (1705 - 1772) , artist