Copy of Diana of Versailles
Encyclopedia
Copy of Diana of Versailles is a figurative cast stone
outdoor sculpture group located on the historic Oldfields
estate on the campus of the Indianapolis Museum of Art
(IMA), in Indianapolis
, Indiana
. The sculpture depicts the Greek goddess Artemis
(though the figure in this sculpture is referred to by the name of her Roman counterpart, Diana
), striding next to a prancing buck while preparing to fire an arrow.
For the Roman marble upon which this sculpture is based, see Diana of Versailles
.
terminating above her knee, a very short himation
, a rounded tiara, and a quiver oriented toward her right shoulder, stands mid-stride at a three-quarter angle to the front of the sculpture with her proper right side closer to the front. Her proper left leg is slightly forward and bears her weight as she steps off her right leg, extended a bit behind her on a supportive rise of the base. With her right arm she reaches up and back, elbow extended sideways, and pulls at an arrow from her quiver, and with her left hand she grasps a fragment of a bow at waist height and slightly forward, with her hand positioned precisely between the buck’s antlers. Her head is turned to be nearly in line with her proper right arm and she has an intense gaze, as though she is closely watching her quarry. Her hair is pulled back into a knot at the nape of her neck.
The two-point buck is poised as though leaping, with his hind hooves on the ground behind Diana and his front legs pulled up for the jump. Even rising up in this manner his head barely reaches the height of her waist. The buck is supported from below his belly by a large tree stump. Both figures stand on a blocked rectangular base.
The sculpture is positioned upon a limestone base and completely obscured by a row of bushes and trees.
in the 1920s. The property and all sculptures on it were donated to the IMA by the family of former Oldfields owner Josiah K. Lilly, Jr., in 1967.
In 2001 the outdoor sculptures were assessed, and eighteen selected pieces were accessioned into the IMA’s Lilly House collection. Copy of Diana of Versailles was assigned Accession Number LH2001.242.
This sculpture is a miniature copy of Diana of Versailles
, a Roman marble copy (2 meters high) of an ancient Greek bronze sculpture thought to have been made by Leochares
c. 325 BC. The Roman marble, of which copies have been made in many media and sizes, was given to King Henry II of France by Pope Paul IV
in the 1500s. The statue has been installed at Fontainebleau
and Versailles
(hence its title) and is now displayed at the Louvre
. It has been suggested about the original sculpture that the depicted buck is not Diana’s companion but her quarry.
The maker and place of origin of the IMA’s sculpture are unknown, but it seems to be one example of a sculpture mass-produced for estate grounds decoration. Diana was a favorite theme for this, given her connection to the outdoors.
) were purchased by the Lilly family, who owned the property after 1932; no supporting evidence is offered. A master's thesis on Oldfields notes that bids for two marble Diana sculptures were under consideration in 1923 during the Gallagher grounds design. It is possible that the resident Landon family later opted to purchase lesser-quality Dianas to save on expense.
Cast stone
Cast stone is defined as “a refined architectural concrete building unit manufactured to simulate natural cut stone, used in unit masonry applications”. In the UK and Europe cast stone is defined as “any material manufactured with aggregate and cementitious binder, intended to resemble in...
outdoor sculpture group located on the historic Oldfields
Oldfields
Oldfields also known as Lilly House and Gardens, is a 26 acre historic estate and house museum on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The estate, an example of the American country house movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was...
estate on the campus of the Indianapolis Museum of Art
Indianapolis Museum of Art
The Indianapolis Museum of Art is an encyclopedic art museum located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The museum, which underwent a $74 million expansion in 2005, is located on a campus on the near northwest area outside downtown Indianapolis, northwest of Crown Hill Cemetery.The...
(IMA), in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. The sculpture depicts the Greek goddess Artemis
Artemis
Artemis was one of the most widely venerated of the Ancient Greek deities. Her Roman equivalent is Diana. Some scholars believe that the name and indeed the goddess herself was originally pre-Greek. Homer refers to her as Artemis Agrotera, Potnia Theron: "Artemis of the wildland, Mistress of Animals"...
(though the figure in this sculpture is referred to by the name of her Roman counterpart, Diana
Diana
Diana may refer to:*Diana , ancient Roman goddess of the moon, the hunt, and chastity*Diana , people with the given name Diana*Diana, Princess of Wales, first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales-Music:...
), striding next to a prancing buck while preparing to fire an arrow.
For the Roman marble upon which this sculpture is based, see Diana of Versailles
Diana of Versailles
The Diana of Versailles is a slightly over lifesize marble statue of the Greek goddess Artemis , with a deer, located in the Musée du Louvre, Paris. It is a Roman copy of a lost Greek bronze original attributed to Leochares, c...
.
Description
This cast stone sculpture group depicts the Greek goddess Artemis (known here as Diana) on the hunt, accompanied by a disproportionately small buck. Diana, clad in strappy sandals, a flowing, Doric chitonChiton (costume)
A chiton was a form of clothing worn by men and women in Ancient Greece, from the Archaic period to the Hellenistic period ....
terminating above her knee, a very short himation
Himation
A himation was a type of clothing in ancient Greece. It was usually worn over a chiton, but was made of heavier drape and played the role of a cloak.The himation was markedly less voluminous than the Roman toga....
, a rounded tiara, and a quiver oriented toward her right shoulder, stands mid-stride at a three-quarter angle to the front of the sculpture with her proper right side closer to the front. Her proper left leg is slightly forward and bears her weight as she steps off her right leg, extended a bit behind her on a supportive rise of the base. With her right arm she reaches up and back, elbow extended sideways, and pulls at an arrow from her quiver, and with her left hand she grasps a fragment of a bow at waist height and slightly forward, with her hand positioned precisely between the buck’s antlers. Her head is turned to be nearly in line with her proper right arm and she has an intense gaze, as though she is closely watching her quarry. Her hair is pulled back into a knot at the nape of her neck.
The two-point buck is poised as though leaping, with his hind hooves on the ground behind Diana and his front legs pulled up for the jump. Even rising up in this manner his head barely reaches the height of her waist. The buck is supported from below his belly by a large tree stump. Both figures stand on a blocked rectangular base.
The sculpture is positioned upon a limestone base and completely obscured by a row of bushes and trees.
Historical information
The grounds of Oldfields were landscaped by Percival Gallagher of the Olmsted BrothersOlmsted Brothers
The Olmsted Brothers company was an influential landscape design firm in the United States, formed in 1898 by stepbrothers John Charles Olmsted and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. .-History:...
in the 1920s. The property and all sculptures on it were donated to the IMA by the family of former Oldfields owner Josiah K. Lilly, Jr., in 1967.
In 2001 the outdoor sculptures were assessed, and eighteen selected pieces were accessioned into the IMA’s Lilly House collection. Copy of Diana of Versailles was assigned Accession Number LH2001.242.
This sculpture is a miniature copy of Diana of Versailles
Diana of Versailles
The Diana of Versailles is a slightly over lifesize marble statue of the Greek goddess Artemis , with a deer, located in the Musée du Louvre, Paris. It is a Roman copy of a lost Greek bronze original attributed to Leochares, c...
, a Roman marble copy (2 meters high) of an ancient Greek bronze sculpture thought to have been made by Leochares
Leochares
Leochares was a Greek sculptor from Athens, who lived in the 4th century BC.-Works:Leochares worked at the construction of the Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus, one of the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World". The Diana of Versailles is a Roman copy of his original...
c. 325 BC. The Roman marble, of which copies have been made in many media and sizes, was given to King Henry II of France by Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV, C.R. , né Giovanni Pietro Carafa, was Pope from 23 May 1555 until his death.-Early life:Giovanni Pietro Carafa was born in Capriglia Irpina, near Avellino, into a prominent noble family of Naples...
in the 1500s. The statue has been installed at Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
and Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
(hence its title) and is now displayed at the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
. It has been suggested about the original sculpture that the depicted buck is not Diana’s companion but her quarry.
The maker and place of origin of the IMA’s sculpture are unknown, but it seems to be one example of a sculpture mass-produced for estate grounds decoration. Diana was a favorite theme for this, given her connection to the outdoors.
Acquisition
It is not known when this sculpture was first brought to the Oldfields estate. Two relatively recent reports shed scant light on the issue: O’Donnell et al. speculate that the three Diana sculptures on the property (see also Copy of Diana of Gabii and Diana with DogDiana with Dog
Diana with Dog is a life-size, figurative cast stone outdoor sculpture located on the historic Oldfields estate on the campus of the Indianapolis Museum of Art , in Indianapolis, Indiana...
) were purchased by the Lilly family, who owned the property after 1932; no supporting evidence is offered. A master's thesis on Oldfields notes that bids for two marble Diana sculptures were under consideration in 1923 during the Gallagher grounds design. It is possible that the resident Landon family later opted to purchase lesser-quality Dianas to save on expense.