Large, rare Meissen figurine group "The Rape of Youth". Dynamically animated group on an oval, rocaille-shaped framed base with sculptural flowers and leaves. The winged, long-bearded Chronos is depicted floating as the god of time, clutching Venus, goddess of beauty, in his arms. Cupid crouching on the ground, weeping with a torch. A skull lying on the back symbolises transience. Polychrome painting with gold staffage. Designed by Max (Georg) Rossmann, 1889 after the marble sculpture "Die Zeit entführt die Schönheit" (also titled "Boreas entführt Oreithyia") by Pietro Balestri (Balestra). Model no. O 144, unmarked; centreboard mark. H. 49 cm. The Italian sculptor Pietro Balestri (Balestra), also known as Pietruccio, belonged to the school of Bernini. After working for Queen Christina of Sweden for many years, he moved to Dresden. During the reign of Augustus the Strong, he created several marble sculptures modelled on antique models, which were initially placed in the garden of the Japanese Palace and later moved to the Great Garden of the baroque Dresden Palace. The majority of Balestra's sculptures created in Dresden were lost during the Seven Years' War. In addition to this group, Maximilian Georg Rossmann (1861 Vohenstrauß/Upper Palatinate - 1926 Amorbach/Lower Franconia) also created the "Allegory of Vigilance" (model no. O 169) for moulding in porcelain after a model by Lorenzo Mattielli. Cf. Thieme-Becker, II, p. 408f. and XXIX, p. 78. A large rare porcelain figure group "The rape of the Youth" modelled by M. Rossmann after P. Balestra. Insignificantly restored. Crossed swords mark. Meissen. Circa 1900.