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Aeneas and Anchises

Statuette
1715 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This terracotta depicts Aeneas carrying his elderly father Anchises, who is leading Aeneas' son Ascanius by the hand. In Greco-Roman mythology, Aeneas was a Trojan hero. After the city of Troy fell to the Greeks during the Trojan War and was burnt, he and his family fled to Italy (where his descendants founded Rome) and it is this dramatic moment which is shown in this terracotta. This was a popular subject in sculpture, also depicted for instance by Bernini, as well as in painting. Anchises carries a household god of Troy, which he took with him to Italy.

This terracotta model by Pierre Le Pautre (ca. 1660-1744), signed and dated 1715, is possibly a sketch model for a marble group of the same subject and composition now in the garden of the Tuileries (it was formerly at Marly, just outside Paris), one of many sculpures made for the King, Louis XIV. More recently it has been suggested that this is a cast from the original model in wax for the marble group. Many of these sculptures, including this one, show subjects from classical mythology which were popular with the King and in royal circles at the time. Le Pautre begun work on the marble group in Rome soon after 1691 while the artist was working at the Académie de France, but it was not finished until 1716 after his return to Paris.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleAeneas and Anchises (generic title)
Materials and techniques
terracotta
Brief description
Statuette, group, terracotta, of Aeneas and Anchises, by Pierre le Pautre, French, 1715
Physical description
Aeneas, wearing classical armour, helmet, and a lion skin loosely draped around his hips, is carrying his father Anchises against his left side. Anchises holds the Penates in his left arm while with his right, hanging over Aeneas' back, he leads his grandson Ascanius.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.6cm
  • Width: 14cm (maximum)
  • Depth: 10.5cm (maximum)
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
P. Le Pautre. Fecit. 1715 (Signed on base)
Credit line
Bought with funds from the John Webb Trust
Object history
Terracotta model for the marble group now in the garden of the Tuileries, formerly at Marly. The marble group, which is signed Le Pautre fecit 1716, was begun in Rome soon after 1691 while the artist was working at the Académie de France, but it was not finished until 1716 after his return to Paris. This terracotta is closely related to a wax model for the marble group made by Girardon.
Production
signed
Subjects depicted
Summary
This terracotta depicts Aeneas carrying his elderly father Anchises, who is leading Aeneas' son Ascanius by the hand. In Greco-Roman mythology, Aeneas was a Trojan hero. After the city of Troy fell to the Greeks during the Trojan War and was burnt, he and his family fled to Italy (where his descendants founded Rome) and it is this dramatic moment which is shown in this terracotta. This was a popular subject in sculpture, also depicted for instance by Bernini, as well as in painting. Anchises carries a household god of Troy, which he took with him to Italy.

This terracotta model by Pierre Le Pautre (ca. 1660-1744), signed and dated 1715, is possibly a sketch model for a marble group of the same subject and composition now in the garden of the Tuileries (it was formerly at Marly, just outside Paris), one of many sculpures made for the King, Louis XIV. More recently it has been suggested that this is a cast from the original model in wax for the marble group. Many of these sculptures, including this one, show subjects from classical mythology which were popular with the King and in royal circles at the time. Le Pautre begun work on the marble group in Rome soon after 1691 while the artist was working at the Académie de France, but it was not finished until 1716 after his return to Paris.
Collection
Accession number
A.37-1939

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Record createdApril 29, 2009
Record URL
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