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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
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A very fine Empire gilt and patinated bronze jardinière, composed of four bas-relief panels representing two different scenes from the life of Hector, the side panels showing the Trojan prince bidding farewell to his wife Andromache on the eve of battle with a pair of leaping horses and chariot beside a soldier to their left, the two end panels showing Andromache and several other mourners beside a high wall, the whole supported upon four gadrooned feet Paris, date circa 1810-15 Height 26.5 cm, length 45.5 cm, width 27 cm. This fine jardinière shows two different bas-relief panels, replicated on either side and at the two ends. The side panels can be interpreted as portraying the Departure of Hector, as told in the Iliad. Hector, the Trojan prince was the son of Priam and Hecuba and was the husband of Andromache and father of Astyanax. A true leader and defender of Troy, he avoided confrontation with Achilles during the early years of the Trojan War but then decimated the Greek ranks during Achilles’ absence. When the latter’s inseparable friend, Patroclus took up arms he was killed by Hector and thus in retaliation, Achilles killed Hector’s brother Polydorus. Thus Hector challenged Achilles in a one-to-one combat but proved the weaker of the two and was subsequently killed. Hector’s dying wishes were for his body to be returned to Priam, but these were ignored. Instead Achilles attached his body by the ankles to his chariot and rode in triumph around the city walls, watched from the battlements by Andromache. The bas-reliefs appear to include various episodes from the narrative, on the side panels one sees to the far right the figure of Hector in his familiar guise wearing a large plumed helmet, as he bids her farewell to his wife Andromache on the eve of battle at the gates of Troy. To their left is a chariot with pair of leaping horses and a soldier beside. This may represent Hector’s own chariot but more likely a triumphal Achilles whipping up his horses in preparation of dragging Hector’s corpse around the Trojan city walls and off to the Greek lines. The end panels are slightly more obscure but most probably represent the lamenting Andromache as well as her elderly and bearded father-in-law behind as well as several aides after witnessing Hector’s fate from the city walls. |