Fontainebleau Nymph, Bronze relief sculpture at Escalier Mollien, Louvre Museum, France
The Fontainebleau Nymph is a bronze relief sculpture located on the Mollien Staircase at the Louvre Museum, depicting a reclining female figure. The work displays forest animals including a stag, boars, and hunting dogs arranged in a single sculptural composition.
Created in the mid-16th century by Italian sculptor Benvenuto Cellini, this relief was originally installed as a garden decoration for the French king's estate. Its eventual transfer to the Louvre reflects how royal art collections evolved over time into public museum holdings.
The reclining figure embodies ideals of grace and nature that were cherished at the French royal court during the Renaissance period. Visitors can observe how the surrounding animals reinforce these court values through their careful arrangement in the composition.
The relief is positioned on a main staircase in the museum where visitors naturally pass through while exploring the galleries. Viewing this work requires standard access to the Louvre and can be incorporated into any visit to the museum's sculpture collection.
The work was cast in multiple separate bronze sections that were carefully assembled to create this large-scale composition. This casting technique reveals specialized craftsmanship required to handle and fit together heavy bronze elements of this magnitude.
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