FEATURES ARCHIVE

New Discovery
This bronze is a newly discovered masterpiece by one of the greatest French baroque sculptors active during the reign of Louis XIV, Corneille van Cleve (1646-1732). Although a small number of other versions of this model exist, this particular one stands out in that it has been in the same collection for over 40 years, is one of the most finely finished and is one of the only known pieces by this artist that is signed or dated. This latter fact is particularly important as the other, unsigned, versions of this model have for the longest time been incorrectly attributed to other artists. Thanks to this discovery, therefore, one can definitively attribute it to the correct artist and add another major piece of baroque sculpture to his oeuvre.

Sculptor par Excellence
Born into a family of goldsmiths of Flemish origin who came to Paris in the early 17th century, Corneille van Clève trained at the Académie Royale de Peinture et Sculpture in Paris. As a promising sculptor he was given the opportunity to study at the affiliated Académie de France in Rome, where he was inspired by the sculpture of Bernini. After four years in Venice, he applied for admission to the Académie Royal in 1678 and was received (reçu) as a member. He went on to enjoy a highly successful career employed by the French royal family, the Church, and private clients. He worked in all areas of sculpture, crafting everything from vast marble statues to small bronze statuettes and candelabra.

From Chateau to Church
This exquisite bronze is dated 1707, so was thus made during the reign of Louis XIV. From the 1680s onwards Van Clève was heavily involved in working for King Louis XIV at Versailles, where some of his works survive in the gardens of the Château to this day. From 1690 to 1705 van Clève was one of the major sculptors employed by the Bâtiments du Roi on the decoration of the Church of the Hôtel des Invalides, Paris. He would almost certainly have made this bronze for a private patron while still working on this commission.

A Thing of Love
This bronze is a representation of the mythological God of Love, Cupid. According to Roman mythology, he was the son of Venus (the Goddess of Love) and Mars (the God of War). He is usually depicted in paintings and sculpture with wings, a bow and arrows, and, as is shown here, involved in his occupation of making people fall in love by stringing his bow, ready to strike his next arrow.