LE LORRAIN, Robert
(b. 1666, Paris, d. 1743, Paris)

Galatea

1701
Marble
National Gallery of Art, Washington

In 1701 Le Lorrain was received at the Académie, on presentation of the marble Galatea, signed and dated that year, and intended as a pendant to Van Clève's Polyphemus. Like that, it takes its inspiration from Annibale Carracci's fresco in the Farnese Gallery, though Le Lorrain has not attempted to duplicate Galatea's flying twist of drapery. But the pose — one of momentary stillness, interpreted gracefully and undramatically — is recognizably Annibale's and only makes full sense when accompanied by the complementary Polyphemus, leaning amorously forward from his rock. Galatea turns her head and pauses in her passage over the sea, a figure of lyrical elegance, delicately and yet keenly modelled in piquant contrast to Van Clève's statue. She is one of the first of those feminine nudes which discriminating collectors sought from Le Lorrain, and which seem often to include similar marine classic associations.




© Web Gallery of Art, created by Emil Krén and Daniel Marx.