Aeneas and Anchises at The Louvre, Paris

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Enee and Anchise by Pierre LePautre portrays Aeneas, the heroic son of Prince Anchises and Goddess Venus, as he escapes Troy in flames with his father, clutching the Trojan Palladium on his shoulders. LePautre carved the marble from a wax cast created by François Girardon during his time at l'Académie de France à Rome in 1697. The sculpture was transported to France in 1715 and installed at the Château de Marly, where Jacques Bousseau assisted with its completion in 1716 before it was moved to the Tuileries Gardens in 1717, serving as a companion piece for Lepautre's Arria et Pætus. Following the fall of Troy during the Trojan War, Anchises, now elderly, was carried from the burning city by his son Aeneas, accompanied by Aeneas' wife Creusa, who perished in their escape attempt, and small son Ascanius. The rescue is depicted in several paintings, including a famous version by Federico Barocci in the Galleria Borghese in Rome. This event is also referenced in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar when Cassius tries to persuade Brutus to kill Caesar. Anchises eventually passed away and was buried in Sicily many years later. Aeneas later visited Hades, where he saw his father again in the Elysian Fields. This sculpture is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from around the globe for public access at no cost. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.