Bust of bearded divinity known as Jupiter of Versailles
Bust of bearded divinity known as Jupiter of Versailles
Rome, 2nd century AD (Bust) and Ile-de-France, 17th century AD (draped torso)
The colossal bust was discovered in 1525 near the Porta del Popolo (the ancient Porta Flaminia in the Aurelian Walls of Rome) and moved by Pope Clement VII [Giulio de’ Medici] to his villa, Villa Madama. Later given to Margaret, Duchess of Parma and Florence (the illegitimate daughter of Charles V), who in turn gave it to Charles' advisor Nicolas Perrenot de Granvelle (1486-1550). He installed it in the Palais Granvelle in Besançon. It was given to Louis XIV in 1683, at which point it was mounted on a pedestal and the stone drapery was added to smooth the transition and give it a herm-like form. Originally intended for the gallery of Versailles, the bust of Jupiter was finally installed in the thicket of the theatre d'Eau, and changed in appearance by adding a draped torso by Jacques Drouilly. Wrongly attributed to the Greek sculptor Myron, the bust was among the first works to leave Versailles for the Louvre in 1798.
Bust of bearded divinity known as Jupiter of Versailles
Bust of bearded divinity known as Jupiter of Versailles
Rome, 2nd century AD (Bust) and Ile-de-France, 17th century AD (draped torso)
The colossal bust was discovered in 1525 near the Porta del Popolo (the ancient Porta Flaminia in the Aurelian Walls of Rome) and moved by Pope Clement VII [Giulio de’ Medici] to his villa, Villa Madama. Later given to Margaret, Duchess of Parma and Florence (the illegitimate daughter of Charles V), who in turn gave it to Charles' advisor Nicolas Perrenot de Granvelle (1486-1550). He installed it in the Palais Granvelle in Besançon. It was given to Louis XIV in 1683, at which point it was mounted on a pedestal and the stone drapery was added to smooth the transition and give it a herm-like form. Originally intended for the gallery of Versailles, the bust of Jupiter was finally installed in the thicket of the theatre d'Eau, and changed in appearance by adding a draped torso by Jacques Drouilly. Wrongly attributed to the Greek sculptor Myron, the bust was among the first works to leave Versailles for the Louvre in 1798.