Albert-Ernest CARRIER-BELLEUSE (Anizy-le-Château, 1824 - Sèvres, 1887) Allegories of the Four Seasons Suite of four terracottas The allegory of Summer signed 'A.CARRIER.' on the back The other three signed 'A CARRIER BELLEUSE' on the back Winter Allegory: 46 cm Resting on a blackened wood and blue glazed earthenware pedestal Total height: 58 cm Summer Allegory: 49 cm Resting on a blackened wood and blue glazed earthenware pedestal Total height: 63 cm Allegory of Spring: 49 cm Resting on a blackened wood and blue glazed earthenware pedestal Total height: 61 cm Allegory of Autumn: 44.5 cm Resting on a blackened wood and blue glazed earthenware pedestal Total height: 58 cm Allegories of the four seasons, four terracottas, signed, by A.-E. Carrier-Belleuse H. 18.11 in. (Winter Allegory) ; 19.29 in. (Summer and Spring Allegories) ; 17.51 in. (Fall Allegory) Provenance: Private European collection Carrier-Belleuse endeavoured to exploit all the innovations and new technologies that accompanied the boom and craze for the plastic arts under the Second Empire. Encouraged by the opportunities offered by the competitiveness of French industry in these prosperous times, he adapted his numerous creations to the various Salons, galleries, fairs and world exhibitions that brought him an international reputation. Although he produced his works in marble, bronze, zinc, silver, biscuit and painted porcelain, it was undoubtedly in terracotta that he excelled in rendering the sophisticated grace emanating from his famous "fantasy" female busts. Carrier-Belleuse, as a well-informed entrepreneur, prioritised his production and offered his most prestigious clientele refined terracotta models with an extremely precious finish. The Four Seasons are the ideal pretext for demonstrating this virtuosity. Here, the smooth, subtle and sensitive work on the skin highlights the luxurious abundance of flowers, fruit and wheat, created using the "pastillage" method, a technique that Carrier-Belleuse had mastered perfectly. Our rare complete series of the Four Seasons dates from the early 1860s. It was during this period that the famous ceramist Théodore Deck (1823-1891) collaborated with the sculptor. He supplied him with tiles whose "Deck blue" glaze, which was very fashionable at the time, combined with blackened wooden pedestals to add a touch of colour and modernity. Albert-Ernest CARRIER-BELLEUSE (Anizy-le-Château, 1824 - Sèvres, 1887)