Erato
ca. 1680–1700
Medium
Bronze, later mounted on black marble socle
Dimensions
Overall, with socle, weight confirmed: 17 3/8 in., 58 lb. (44.1 cm, 26.3 kg) Overall, without socle, weight confirmed: 40.5 lb. (18.4 kg)
Classification
Sculpture-Bronze
Culture
French, probably Paris
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
Accession Number
32.100.194
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the graceful bronze figure of *Erato*, the Muse of lyric and erotic poetry, crafted by François Girardon around 1680–1700. This exquisite French sculpture, likely produced in Paris, captures the goddess in a poised, classical pose, embodying the refined elegance of late Baroque art. Girardon, a leading sculptor under Louis XIV, was renowned for his monumental works at Versailles, where he blended Italian influences with France's stately grandeur. Here, the bronze medium—cast to a substantial 40.5 pounds without its later black marble socle—highlights the era's mastery of lost-wax techni...