Offered by Period Portraits
A pair of large and fine early/mid eighteenth century allegorical oils attributed to Charles Antoine Coypel (1694-1752)
Painted in the round one depicts Apollo, the Greek and Roman god of the sun and the arts, who fell in love with the nymph Daphne. Chased to a riverbank, Daphne is praying to her father, the river god, Peneus, for help. At the moment Apollo reaches out to touch her, she transforms into a laurel tree, with branches and roots sprouting from her body.
The other depicts Venus likely partnered by Apollo and is an allegory of love or abundance: The shell which is often associated with Venus symbolises femininity, sensuality, and birth and the golden contents within it wealth and blessings, or indeed the richness of love being shared between the two figures.
Charles Antoine Coypel (1649-1752) Coypel was a was a French painter and engraver and member of the celebrated artistic Coypel family. His first teacher was his father, Antoine Coypel who he worked with until his father’s death in 1722. Charles then inherited the elder Coypel’s painting and design responsibilities at court, becoming the chief painter of Philippe II. Due d”Orleans and received lodging at the Louvre, which he retained until his death. In 1747 he became the director of the Royal Academy and chief painter of the king.
Coypel’s masterpiece was a large work portraying scenes from Don Quixote (1716). He also received several commissions for the chateau of Versailles and for the chapel of Trianon; and he worked for the king’s mistress,MAdame die pompadour. In 1747 Coypel received a commission for tapestries for the queen of Poland, a series of scenes from various plays. Coypel also painted portraits of the duc d’Orléans, Louis XV and other political and religious figures; he also painted actors. Coypel is also noteworthy for his writings, which include prose, verse, two tragedies, and several comedies.
This fine pair of museum quality oils are are housed in matching antique empire style frames. They are in an excellent state of conservation, having benefitted from a surface clean and re varnish, and their pigments remain particularly fresh and vibrant.
Higher resolution images on request. Worldwide shipping available.
Canvas : 40" x 50" / 101cm x 127cm. Frame: 51" x 48” / 130cm x 122cm.
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