Keywords: Etienne-Maurice Falconet - Pygmalion and Galatea - Walters 27387 - View F.jpg This statue is very likely the one exhibited by the artist at the Salon of 1763 The subject is taken from the Roman poet Ovid's tale of Pygmalion Pygmalion is depicted in rapturous amazement at the feet of his love object a nude sculpture just at the moment when it is given life by Venus the goddess of love It is one of several celebrated works that established Falconet as one of the most influential sculptors of the second half of the 18th century Falconet was supported by Louis XV's mistress Mme de Pompadour through whose influence he was put in charge of sculpture at the Royal Porcelain Manufactory at Sèvres A version of this sculpture was supplied by the artist as a model for reproduction by the manufacturer in white biscuit porcelain Although this marble statue shares the same spirit as the painter Boucher's lighthearted and often erotic works Falconet also created ambitious sculptures noted for their sober Classicism the most famous example being his heroic equestrian portrait of Peter the Great in St Petersburg 1763 marble cm 58 42 accession number 27 387 17579 Gaston Le Breton Ambatielos date and mode of acquisition unknown Arnold Seligmann Rey Co date and mode of acquisition unknown Henry Walters city Baltimore Walters Art Museum Henry Walters Acquired by Henry Walters 1924 Art about Art Painting and Sculpture in Competition Wettstreit der Künste Malerei und Skulptur von Dürer bis Daumier Haus der Kunst Munich; Wallraf-Richartz-Museum Köln 2002 place of origin France Walters Art Museum license Étienne Maurice Falconet Media contributed by the Walters Art Museum needs category review Sculptures in the Walters Art Museum |