Apollon sur son char
Apollon sur son char is a lead sculpture from the 17th century showing the sun god in his chariot at the center of the Apollo Basin in the Versailles gardens. The work includes 13 statues in total and symbolizes Apollo's daily journey across the sky, pulled by four horses with attendant figures.
The sculpture was created between 1668 and 1671 by Jean-Baptiste Tuby based on a design by Charles Le Brun and was among the first artworks commissioned for the gardens under Louis XIV. A major restoration took place between 1929 and 1933, when the statues were cleaned, re-gilded, and returned to their original splendor.
The sculpture depicts Apollo the sun god rising from the water, serving as an allegory for King Louis XIV, who called himself the Sun King. This visual metaphor represented the monarch's power and radiance to visitors and subjects alike.
The sculpture sits in the center of the Versailles gardens between the Grand Canal and the Great Lawn and is easily accessible on foot from the palace's main areas. Early morning or late afternoon visits offer better lighting and quieter conditions for viewing the gilded details without crowds.
The statue was originally gilded with leaf gold in 1670, making it glisten dramatically in the sunlight and visible from great distances across the gardens. During recent restoration work, specialists applied a special bronze-colored patina to recreate the authentic appearance of the original 17th-century finish.
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