A Dutch carved sandstone allegorical group of Jupiter and Mercury

A Dutch carved sandstone allegorical group of Jupiter and Mercury, in the manner of Jan Pieter van Baurscheit, late 17th / early 18th century, 82.5cm high, 56cm wide, 33cm deep.

Jan Pieter van Baurscheit (1669-1728) specialized in allegorical garden sculptures and his work his held in public and private collections including the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. For a similar example see Christie's, Dunsborough Park, 19th-20th June 2013, Lot 17 for a signed allegorical group.

This sculpture depicts Jupiter in armour and his son Mercury with a goose, standing on a shell. This group relates to the story of Philemon and Baucis. According to Ovid the Gods came to stay at the old couples cottage disguised as travellers. When they came to catch their only goose for the meal the Gods revealed their true identity and thus saved the life of the goose.