ENGLAND, END OF THE 19th CENTURY Buffet with scenes... Lot 51

ENGLAND, END OF THE 19th CENTURY Buffet with scenes painted on three sides after Ovid's Metamorphoses, it opens in front of two arched doors, with mirrors engraved with stars. The lower part opens to four drawers. The painted doors on the back reveal fifteen drawers also decorated with mythological scenes. The gendarme hat top is surmounted by a seated Chinese man holding a conch, framed by two putti also holding a conch. Height 247 cm Width 121.4 cm (Restorations) Provenance: Doré personal collection, Hôtel de l'Europe, Tours. An English 19th century cabinet with painted panels depicting Ovid's metamorphoses. Two mirrored doors, nineteen drawers. This cabinet decorated with painted panels is the image of an English library designed by William Bruges which appeared at the London World's Fair in 1862. The composition of the characters from Ovid's Metamorphoses is sometimes taken from the ceiling by Annibal Carracci for the Farnese Palace. In particular, some of the mythological lovers can be recognized. On the upper part: - River God and two goddesses. - The death of Hyacinth. - Two goddesses in a landscape? - Messenger and woman in a landscape ? - Zeus and Hera. - The fight between Love and Pan. - Hercules and Omphale. - The sleep of Endymion. - Narcissus reflecting in the water. - Byblis pursuing Caunos. - Apollo the shepherd guarding the flock of Admetus. - Apollo and Daphne. - Venus and Anchises. - Narcissus reflecting in the water. - Salmacisse and Hermaphrodite? Inside the doors : - Apollo and nymphs ? - Circea. On the left side: - Venus, Adonis and Cupid ? - Diana and Callisto ? On the right side : - Pan kidnapping Syrinx. - Mercury and shepherds? On the lower part: - The loves of the River God. - Venus crying over the death of Adonis. - Jason and Medea? - Mercury and Argus or Apollo and Daphnis? We thank Stéphane Pinta who confirmed the English attribution of these paintings.