the personification seated in a carriage atop clouds, drawn by two stags, Luna wearing a diadem, the purple cloak and the wheels set with precious stones, holding bows and arrows, by her right side a seated putto, holding a crescent moon, 2 leaping stags with decorated bridle with rosettes on the chest, porcelain, polychromed and gilt, tiered base with narrow and wide gilt edging, light purple border, light blue forget-me-not frieze and green sculpted laurel garlands with red fruit attached to gilt rings, smooth back, porcelain, polychromed and gilt, height: 30 cm, length: 42 cm, small restorations, Meissen, underglaze blue crossed swords mid-19th cent., model No 14, former no. 110, painter no. 38, model by Johann Joachim Kändler 1772-1773, for the pavilion by the Sleigh Hills in the park of the Oranienbaum Palace, Lomonossow (Ru)

Lit.:
Meissen für die Zaren, Porzellan als Mittel sächsisch-russischer Politik im 18. Jahrhundert, Ausstellungs Katalog Dresden 2004, p 103 ff, ill. 28. This group was part of the "Great Russian Commission" for Empress and Tsarina Catherine II., with 40 mythological sculptures, and intended for the pavilion by the Sleigh Hills in the park of the Oranienbaum Palace, Lomonossow. The commission was awarded to Johann Joachim Kändler (1706-1775) who provided all the drafts, Michael Acier (1736-1799) was also involved in the execution of the project. At the time the only known planets were those visible to the naked eye, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn; with Sun and Moon also being included. Kändler created the Phoebus Apollo group, representing the sun, matched by the Goddess Luna group. The figural groups have a flat back so that they can be placed against the wall.