Architectural Heritage

Complete Grotto with Sleeping Ariadne and Giant Antique Clam Shell (c. 1840 Italy)

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Marble and stone

A complete Grotto as displayed at Chelsea Flower Show. Grotto rock imported from Italy and an extremely large and rare antique giant clam shell, also incoporating a 19th century marble figure, circa 1840, of the sleeping Ariadne, also known as Cleopatra, Dido and Nymph, being a copy of the Roman statue in the Vatican Museum discovered during excavations in 1512. The whole ensemble being a homage to the Grotto at Stourhead, which incorporates a lead model of Ariadne cast by John Cheere.

Many myths surround Ariadne but she is best known as the daughter of King Minos of Crete. Ariadne fell in love with Theseus, an Athenian hero, tasked with slaying the Minotaur. She came to his aid by giving him a ball of string to be laid on entering the labyrinth, enabling him to retrace his steps once his task was complete. Travelling back to Athens, Ariadne and Theseus stopped at Naxos where Theseus deserted her whilst she was ‘sleeping’ apparently dreaming of Bacchus telling her to stay on Naxos. This she did and promptly married Bacchus when she awoke. A famous copy of this model by John Cheere (1709–1787) can be seen in the Grotto at Stourhead as the Nymph of the Grot, under which Alexander Pope translated from the Latin a poem:

Nymph of the Grot, these are sacred springs I keep,
And to the Murmer of these waters sleep:
Ah spear my slumbers, gently tread the cave!
And drink in silence, or in silence lave!

gbp 16000.00 (Pound Sterling)