Primavera (Spring)

Louis Richard Garbe (1876-1957)

1926

Ivory mounted on wood, with gold paint

“Garbe revived the art of carving ivory in Britain, and exhibited ivory sculptures at the Royal Academy from 1924 onwards. This monumental work shows Flora in the centre, clasping a bunch of flowers. At the top, the personification of the sun emerges from clouds, above a frieze of nude boys carrying flowers.” — Victoria & Albert chatlabel

Photograph and caption by Robert Freidus

Courtesy Victoria & Albert Museum