A German early 18th century carved alabaster figural group possibly by Paul Heerman (1673-1732)
Lot 25
A German early 18th century carved alabaster erotic figural group possibly by Paul Heerman (1673-1732)
Sold for £13,750 (US$ 22,484) inc. premium
Auction Details
Lot Details
A German early 18th century carved alabaster erotic figural group
possibly by Paul Heerman (1673-1732)
depicting a monk and a prelate with a young woman, the monk pulling off her stocking while the prelate looks on, on a stippled oval base, 43cm high, 50cm wide (17" high, 19.75" wide)

Footnotes

  • This group resembles the work of Paul Heerman in both its playful treatment of a taboo subject and stylistically in the treatment of the facial characteristics. For example his Education through Severity: Corporal Punishment depicts two putti, one thrashing the other with a rope scourge. It comes from a series of Virtues and Vices, which also includes the group of Winged Female Genius Crowning a Putto with a Laurel Wreath, 1712, which is now in the Los Angeles County Museum (Inv. No. M.79.15).

    The use of contemporary costume may also point to an attribution to Theophil Wilhelm Freese (Bremen, 1696-1763), whose group of The Four Seasons compares stylistically to the present group.
Activities
Go to European Furniture and Works of Art
Auction terms and conditions
Contacts
  1. Fine Furniture (UK)
    Auction Administration - European Furniture and Works of Art
    Bonhams
    Work
  2. Jackie Brown
    Auction Administration - European Furniture and Works of Art
    Bonhams
    Work
    101 New Bond Street
    London, W1S 1SR
    United Kingdom
    Work +44 20 7468 8204
    FaxFax: +44 20 7468 8208
  3. Francois Le Brun
    Specialist - European Furniture and Works of Art
    Bonhams
    Work
    101 New Bond Street
    London, W1S 1SR
    United Kingdom
    Work +44 20 7468 8251
    FaxFax: +44 20 7468 8208
  4. Camille Mestdagh
    Specialist - European Furniture and Works of Art
    Bonhams
    Work
    101 New Bond Street
    London, W1S 1SR
    United Kingdom
    Work +44 20 7468 8234
    FaxFax: +44 20 8963 2807