Grande Commande, Marble sculpture collection in Palace of Versailles Gardens, France
The Grande Commande is a collection of twenty-seven marble sculptures in the Water Parterre of Versailles Gardens. The works were created by different sculptors and depict mythological figures, natural elements, and concepts like the passage of time.
The project began in the 1670s under the direction of Charles Le Brun, who oversaw more than twenty sculptors. The sculptures were moved several times later as garden design changed over the following decades.
The sculptures portray goddesses, seasons, and muses that suggest music and the arts in the garden. They show how Baroque art expressed connections between humans, nature, and the divine through allegorical forms.
The sculptures are located in the open garden area, so they are weather-dependent and may occasionally be hidden for restoration work. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the terrain is uneven and exploring requires long walks through the grounds.
The term Grande Commande was not coined until the 1930s, describing one of the most ambitious artistic projects of the 17th century. Although the sculptures had existed for nearly four centuries, they were only given this unifying name long after their creation.
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