Porcelain Figurine Group from Meissen, 1860s

Very rare and excellent porcelain sculpture: Kaendler created the group Apollo and Python as a triangular composition in March and May of1774. Apollo stands in the highest place as the radiant victor over the dragon Python and over the personification of envy, both of whom lie slain at his feet. To the left, Minerva sits as the goddess of prudent war, turning her gaze to the hero. Dressed in helmet and armor, she carries a spear in her right hand and an olive branch in her left, while the owl next to her right foot indicates her identity as Pallas Athena. Just like Apollo, the tsarina protected by Minerva is supposed to leave the envious behind and always triumph over evil. The group is based on stepped, irregular, yet symmetrical, partially curved base with gold raised frieze decoration and was made in two parts, which were then joined and screwed together. The design of this group belongs to the models of the 'Great Russian Order'. The total of 40 small sculptures were commissioned in 1772 for Empress Catherine II by Kändler, who supplied all the drawings. The figures were intended to decorate a cabinet in a pavilion in the garden of Oranienbaum Palace near St. Petersburg. Some of the designs do not necessarily reveal a direct relationship to the Russian empress, but in the case of some of them, Kändler at least gave hints in his work reports as to how he wanted the content of his artworks to be understood. Designer: JOHANN JOACHIM KAENDLER (1706 - 1775) chief sculptor at the Meissen manufactory from 1742 to 1775. He is the most famous modeller Meissen manufactory ever had and created famous series such as Shepherd Figurines, Comedian's Children, Gardener Children (with Acier), Paris Town Criers (with Reinicke and Meyer) , Gallant Figurines, etc. Design of this figurine group in 1774. Manufactory: Meissen Germany Dating: made ca. 1860 Material: white porcelain, glossy finish Technique: handmade and finest hand painting Size: height: 33.0 cm / 12.99 inches width: 36.0 cm / 14.17 inches depth: 18.0 cm / 7.08 inches Marks: Blue Meissen underglaze crossed sword mark circa 1860, 'Pommels on hilts' / first quality model number 32 / former's number 48 / painter's number 18 Bibliography: - Thomas & Sabine Bergmann, Meissen Figures / Erlangen (Germany) 2017, Model Numbers Series and Animals, catalogue number 3401 on page 148. - Ulrich Pietsch, Meissen für die Zaren (Meissen for the Tsars), Hirmer Verlag Munich 2004, page 105, fig. 29. Condition: very good