Atalante, Stone statue in Tuileries Garden, France

Atalante is a stone sculpture located near the rectangular north basin of the Tuileries Garden, depicting a female figure in a running position. The statue features detailed carving and serves as an important element of the garden's baroque art collection.

Pierre Lepautre created this sculpture between 1703 and 1705 under commission from King Louis XIV for the gardens at Château de Marly. The statue was moved from Marly to the Tuileries in 1798 as part of a larger transfer of artworks between royal residences.

The statue depicts Atalante, a Greek huntress from mythology known for her speed and independence. Visitors see a female figure frozen in motion, telling an ancient story through carved stone.

The sculpture is located in the first arrondissement of Paris and is accessible year-round through multiple garden entrances. Visitors should know that the site is explored on foot, and the sculpture sits in a quiet spot beside the basin.

Atalante and the Hippomenes beside her were carved by different hands: Lepautre made Atalante, while the companion figure is attributed to a separate sculptor of the same Marly campaign. Look for the golden apples Hippomenes dropped to slow her during the race, the detail that decides the myth.